Mass Rally rattles home for Silver

Mass Rally swooped late to get the better of Andrew Balding's Highland Colori in the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup on Saturday.

Michael Dods' five-year-old was sent off at 16-1 after a string of near misses but Paul Mulrennan timed his challenge to perfection to land the race on the line.

Highland Colori was made the 6-1 favourite by punters and he looked to have done enough inside the final furlong before the winner's late charge.

Irish raider An Saighdiur (8-1) was third with Dods' Spinatrix (14-1) fourth.

Gatepost was fifth for Richard Fahey.

Dods said: "I'm so pleased for the horse. You just can't bustle him along, you have to sit and wait, but he has plenty of ability and Paul gave him a great ride.

"As I said, he really deserved that - he's been second so many times and his owner has had to wait, but I knew there was a big one in him.

"Paul has had a bit of criticism for the way he rides the horse, but the horse has to be ridden like that and in sprints you need a bit of luck for it to come off.

"We would have been really gutted if he had beaten again. We couldn't be more delighted, but we won't be staying for a party in Ayr tonight as we're going back home for a christening tomorrow - we will certainly have a party at some time."

Mulrennan said: "He's a bit of a character but has plenty of ability.

"You have to sit and suffer with him, but it came off today."