Chapple-Hyam still in charge

Peter Chapple-Hyam continued his unbeaten start to July as Palus San Marco earned a hard-fought victory over Kampai in the Catering Services International Ltd Maiden Stakes at Brighton.

Second on his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham, Palus San Marco (7-4) was pitted against Scottish Vespers, the only ride on the card for William Buick, but Sir Michael Stoute's 4-5 favourite carried his head awkwardly and could only manage third.

Instead the main challenge came from Kampai, who had been nursed back by Julia Feilden after a long lay-off due to a fractured coccyx, and the 50-1 shot pushed Robert Havlin's mount all the way to the line, giving best by a head.

Chapple-Hyam's assistant, Ronan Meehan, said: "Pete's going really well - I think that's three winners from the last five runners. The owners, who are Italian, hadn't had a winner with us for ages, but Venegazzu won at Wolverhampton for them on Monday, too."

By this point, midway through the afternoon, the sea fret and incessant drizzle had finally dispersed. Members of the Out Of Bounds Racing Club had been prepared to tolerate the unpleasant conditions as Scommettitrice (15-2) completed a quick course double in division one of the Hardings Catering Handicap.

Carrying a 6lb penalty for her success over half a furlong less just a week ago, David Evans' filly appeared to be struggling for much of this six-furlong contest until the leaders began to toil, and Andrea Atzeni sneaked past Captainrisk to score by a nose.

Mike Kilsby, of the three-strong syndicate, said: "We were David's 1,000th winner on the Flat here last week and we don't mind it raining as she seems to like the soft. It was only in the last 200 yards that she looked like getting there."

Olivia Maylam's curiously named Mucky Molly (7-2) finally broke her duck at the 19th attempt in division two as the beneficiary of a similarly run race, with the leaders burning themselves out to set it up for those ridden with more restraint.

Jockey Neil Callan said: "I've called her a few names myself. It's good for Olivia - it shows you can eventually have your day if you're patient."

Subtle Knife (8-1) is blooming in a similar way to her half-sister Golden Compass and made it a brace for the season in the 3663 First For Food Service Handicap under William Carson. The jockey took the far-rail route on The Strig (12-1) to complete a double in the Hardings Catering Services Handicap.