Rubble rocks bookies again

Ten-year-old Barney Rubble stung the bookmakers for the second time in a month when running away with the McAlpine Challenge Cup Chase at Ayr on Saturday.

The gelding was heavily backed when winning by 25 lengths at the same track on Boxing Day, at odds of 7-2, and his supporters came back for more on Saturday morning when some off-course bookmakers offered an early price of 10-1. By noon the odds were down to as low as 4-1. At the "off'', he was 5-1 and proceeded to win comfortably by six lengths.

The first prize of more than £7,000 gave Hawick owner Donald Whillans, who is in only his second season with a training permit, his most important success.

Barney Rubble's rider, Brian Harding, achieved a 53-1 double when riding Aragon Ayr to victory in the next race.

Mo's Main Man continued Simon Dow's good run in France when getting up by a nose to land the 10-furlong Prix de Bastia at Cagnes-sur-Mer yesterday.