JACK Mitchell has one regret about coming to Salisbury, the Newmarket-based jockey quipping: "It's a lovely place but I wish it was closer to home."

Mitchell had just edged ahead as the most successful rider in the track's truncated season when Molly Shaw scrambled home in the six furlong handicap in last night's evening card.

Diamond Cottage made a seemingly winning move inside the final furlong and the favourite never looked picking her until they reached the shadow of the post where she finally nailed the outsider to win by a short head.

"I was a little worried mid-race and she was up against it two out," admitted Mitchell, partnering his seventh winner at the course this year to bring his overall total to 70, 19 shy of last year's personal best score. "It was the first time she has had to dig deep but she gave me everything."

Trueshan gave evidence that he would not be out of place in the stayers race on champions day at Ascot next month when he shrugged off a 7lb penalty to win the win the feature race, the 14 furlong Persian Punch Conditions Stakes.

Withhold made the race a searching stamina test and only Trueshan could get to grips with him, overhauling him a furlong out to impress Martin Harley who has a high opinion of the four-year-old.

"He saw the trip out well and has a nice change of gear. I thought it was a tricky looking race on paper but he got on top and I would like to see him step up a few furlongs further. I was pleased with the way he finished here."

Tornadic made it two from two when he short headed the favourite Albanman in the opening auction stakes race - much to the surprise of jockey Charles Bishop.

"I thought he had done me on the line," he confessed. "Thank God, it was a stride afterwards."

Always up with the pace, Tornadic, backed in from 8/1 to 5/1, had to withstand a determined challenge from the Newmarket challenger who didn't enjoy the easiest of passages but looked set to reel him in the final furlong. Tornadic, giving his rival 7lbs, however clung on.

"He's tough and tenacious," added Bishop of the two-year-old. "He was very green first time out and still is but he has size and scope and there is plenty of improvement left in him. He saw out the mile really well and I had difficulty pulling him up."

Winning trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said: "He's big, backward baby and may not run again this season."

Bishop feared Percy's Lad would not be street wise to do himself justice on his debut in the second division. Instead the colt cruised past the favourite In The Breeze to win by a very comfortable three and a quarter lengths.

"We have always liked this horse but he's had a few bumps and bruises on the way," reported Johnson Houghton who only earmarked the race as she was unable to find a similar one over seven furlongs. "He is very green but has got an engine and has done everything we have asked of him on the bridle. He is still unfurnished and will make a useful horse next year."

Richard Hannon saddled three in the nursery, providing the favourite in Arsonist but he dropped out tamely a furlong out to finish last and the race fell to his unconsidered 66/1 shot Bella Notte. The biggest problem for apprentice Mark Crehan was getting him into the stalls but the 5lb claimer downplayed it, saying "He was just looking around. We had a lovely position throughout and I thought I had hit the front early but he stayed on well. She has a lovely attitude at home which she brought to the course."

But that did not compare with the shock result of the concluding 14 furlong handicap when Mere Anarchy at 100/1 produced one of the biggest upsets in the course's long history.

It has been three years since the veteran caused a 33/1 upset at Kempton, though he has been placed eight times over hurdles since. Having his first outing since January, no doubt with a jumping campaign in mind, he made steady progress from two out to lead in the final 100 yards to thwart Peckinpah for Welsh trainer Robert Stephens.

Rania was backed in from 33/1 to half those odds for the six furlong nursery but the market support looked a tad awry when it looked trapped in a pocket two out but Jason Watson managed to switch her to the stands side to win going away by two and a half lengths, endorsing trainer Sylvester Kirk's pre-race confidence.

"It was not as straight forward as I would have liked," Watson reported. "Approaching two out I was sitting handy with a double handful and I felt in no danger when she got out. "