Alpha gives Perrett first two-year-old strike of season; WARWICK.

Byline: Will O'Hanlon

AMANDA PERRETT'S two-year-olds have been slow to find their form this season, so the Pulborough trainer will have been greatly relieved to see Sierra Alpha give her a first juvenile success of the year when taking the second division of the 7f maiden.

Sent off at 28-1, Khalid Abdullah's son of Dansili battled on well for pressure in the straight to get up in the closing stages and beat fellow newcomer Dahaam by half a length, with rider Jim Crowley reporting to trainer's husband Mark Perrett that the horse would have no trouble getting 1m in time.

"He's been working quite nicely at home," said Perrett of the winner. "But in general the two-year-olds have been slow to come to hand, so it's just great to get that first winner on the board. The older horses lost their form for a bit about a month ago, but they've come back to themselves again recently, so things are going quite nicely at present."

That was confirmed an hour later when Saborido completed a double for the Perrett stable with victory in the 1m7f handicap.

Saborido, raised 3lb for a recent Salisbury win, proved that he is still on the upgrade as he edged out Pseudonym by a short head in a driving finish.

The first division of the juvenile maiden fell to Centigrade, who confirmed the promise of his recent debut fourth at Newmarket when beating Start Right by three-quarters of a length.

William Haggas, who trains the Verglas colt for the Verglas syndicate of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, was represented by his wife Maureen, who said of the winner: "We'll keep things low-profile with him for now."

Taqdeyr, who raced too freely when held up at Newmarket last time, proved a different proposition when allowed to dictate in the feature 7f conditions event and the 9-4 shot held on well under Philip Robinson to beat Khor Dubai with something to spare.

"He usually takes quite a hold," said trainer Michael Jarvis's travelling head groom Paul Deal of the winner, "but he is definitely better on a turning track such as this.

"He's a decent horse on his day, as he showed here."

Jarvis and Robinson doubled up when Mathaaq just got the better of Duke Of Burgundy in the 1m3f maiden.

Their hopes of completing a treble with Lyceana in the 1m3f handicap came to nought as the well-fancied filly finished down the field in a race won by Jawaab, who is trained by Mark Buckley and was ridden by Richard Mullen.

Leleyf, trained by Mick Channon for Box 41 and ridden by Chris Catlin, took the 51/2f nursery and is likely to reappear at Ripon today.

"She didn't handle the track at Chester last time," said Terry Ralph, a member of the winning syndicate of their filly.

Milton Bradley had a one-two in the 6f handicap, with Ghost Dancer, ridden by Richard Kingscote, just getting the better of Triple Dream.

Star performance Jim Crowley was in fine form with a 129-1 double on Sierra Alpha and Sabodino Ride of the day Philip Robinson judged the pace perfectly on Taqdeyr in the feature Which Highclere Thoroughbred juvenile looks set for higher rank following an impressive maiden success. Results and analysis start page 86