Rayb goes International

Mark Johnston gained sweet compensation for Lovelace's withdrawal from the totesport International as second-string Laa Rayb won the seven-furlong cavalry charge at Ascot.

Lovelace was the 6-1 favourite for the race but had to be taken out moments before the gates opened. Johnston's chagrin soon dissipated, however, as the Royston Ffrench-ridden Laa Rayb (18-1) came from another parish to hold Dhaular Dhar by a length and a quarter. Giganticus and Excusez Moi finished third and fourth.

Ffrench said: "I was always confident I was travelling ever so well and he did it well in the end. He's a typical Mark Johnston horse - very, very tough. There's no reason he cannot go on to better things with the turn of foot he showed there."

Johnston added: "He's been a very good horse for a long time so it was no great surprise to see him win. He's a bit quirky and gets a bit stewed-up before the start. But he's a big strong horse and it was a tough old race out there - it took a tough old campaigner to win it.

"I'd been frustrated watching the Lovelace scenario and then I thought the commentator said 'Laa Rayb going backwards' and then there he was bursting out of the pack."

The Storm Cat gelding holds entries at Goodwood next week, but Johnston said: "Sheikh Ahmed (owner) has a policy that he does not like his horses to run for 14 days afterwards so we will have to see."