Kevin Darley, with the help of his old boss Peter Savill, readied himself for a final push towards his first jockeys` title with a short-priced treble at Ayr today.
His victories aboard Carousing, Golden Way and Blueberry Forest helped to maintain his grip at the top of the table.
With less than two months of the season remaining Darley is, barring injury or a lengthy suspension, almost certain to be crowned the champion.
His supreme skills were underlined as Carousing got back on the winning track in the Bymax Engineering Claiming Stakes.
The colt was fitted with blinkers for the first time and it required all of Darley`s renowned strength to force him past Lord Eurolink inside the final furlong for a one-length verdict.
Carousing, sent off at generous odds of 5-2, was carrying the colours of Savill, the chairman of the British Horseracing Board, for whom Darley used to be retained jockey.
The pair are teaming up again tomorrow for Pepperdine`s tilt at the Ladbroke (Ayr) Gold Cup.
'I was tempted when I saw the 5-2 about Carousing but I`m a bit rusty in betting matters at the moment,' said Savill.
'He`s been jarred up twice and he`s still remembering it so we thought we`d put him in a claimer to try to boost his confidence.'
Carousing will not be racing in Savill`s colours in future as he was claimed after the race for #20,000 by Peter Hurst.
The owner is concerned that Pepperdine, one of eight runners in the race for trainer David `Dandy` Nicholls, will be inconvenienced by his number three draw in the Gold Cup.
Savill is still searching for his first win in the race, having had the runner-up three times with Chaplins Club (twice) and Echo-Logical.
'I was disappointed when I heard the draw as I`ve always thought eight to 15 was a good place to be,' he said.
'We haven`t had a lot of luck with as Pepperdine he has now been drawn in the wrong place in four big handicaps.
'But Dandy isn`t too worried as he thinks all the speedwill be on that side.'
Darley`s task was not so difficult on Golden Way who became the first winning favourite of the Western Meeting when obliging in the Faucets For Safe Showering, Bathing & Handwashing Rada & Meynell Controls Fillies` Handicap.
The well-backed 2-1 chance, the subject of several four-figure bets, was under pressure for a short time in the back straight but took control on the run for home.
Stretching clear in fine style, Ed Dunlop`s charge was six lengths clear of Chameleon at the line.
There was a brief scare for supporters of Blueberry Forest before the 3-10 chance overpowered the 100-1 outsider Denise Best in the HBG Properties Stakes.
The 'follow the top-weight in a nursery' system paid off twice as Soldier On and Perfect Plum obliged.
Soldier On defeated Armagnac by a neck in the James Barr Nursery to give Craig Williams his 37th success since coming to Britain from Australia earlier this season.
Perfect Plum appreciated the drop in class _she tackled the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week _ when justifying favouritism in the Scottish Equitable/Jockeys Association Nursery.
Great News capitalised on his favourable handicap mark to take care of his rivals in the Beat 106 Handicap and ensure a gamble was landed.
The success of the 11-4 favourite took out more than #135,000 in major bets alone.
William Haggas` charge may well turn out again tomorrow at Ayr in the Ladbrokes Ayrshire Handicap.
There was more grief for bookmakers as Give An Inch trotted up in the Sporran Handicap.
The 7-4 chance was winning the corresponding race for the third year in a row.
Francis Norton was suspended for three days (September 24-26) inclusive for irresponsible riding of a minor nature aboard Markusha in the first race.
Dean Mernagh was fined #100 for entering the racecourse stables without an identity card.
