Co-owner Mark 'Mouse' Young greets his winner Keyboard Gangster in the winner's enclosure at Ayr today

Keyboard Gangster hoses in at Ayr

Tremendous performance today at Ayr from our novice hurdler Keyboard Gangster who spread-eagled his field from halfway in this 2 mile event, to come home unchallenged over the final 3 flights.

The co-favourites (near enough) were clearly fancied by their respective stables of Nicky (Nando) and GNWTLR (Bialco) and it was the latter who chased forlornly after Keyboard Gangster. Winning chaser Bialco is rated OR127 and while this is based on form over 2m 7f, there's no denying he's a useful horse whereas we felt Nando didn't cope with the testing conditions.

Keyboard Gangster is accused of 'possessing a bit of temperament' by those fine judges at Racing UK, but he's probably the bravest horse at Dodlands having survived being knocked over by a car just outside our yard (see other social media outlets for some gruesome photos). Just to keep alive after this would warrant accolades but to pulverize his field on only his 4th racecourse appearance......well, words fail us......
The 7 year old gelding by Gamut is an imposing sort, standing at 16.3hh and possessing the scope to develop into a useful chaser in the not too distant future. An exciting prospect!!

What a couple of months for the yard - 6 wins from 5 individual horses and only one of these in a handicap. A great effort from all at Dodlands Steading, and full credit to the team at home - Sarah, Georgina, Lisa and Ryan too, plus the weekend lads Murray, Mathew and Craig (we've used their Sunday names for the latter two!).

You can see the last couple of flights of the race here.
Post race interview by Gordon Brown of Racing UK

Keyboard Gangster

A fine re-appearance by runner up Big Bad Dream

Okay, it was a second of 3 runners, and well held by Ewart's long odds-on shot Black Pirate but Big Bad Dream delighted us with the run. Not unduly knocked about by Callum Bewley once it was evident that he was up against a smooth travelling winner, he kept on nicely and will come on for the race.

Not sure just yet whether we'll look for another bumper (his final outing in this sphere) or crack on with schooling over hurdles. Being by Mountain High, he's more than likely to improve as he gets older and has certainly the size and scope for the jumping game.

View the closing stages here.

Big Bad Dream