RACING: Imperial Stride made all under Richard Hills for a cosy success in the Daily Record Scottish Derby at Ayr yesterday.

The four-year-old was giving Michael Stoute his third consecutive win in the 10-furlong race since it was upgraded to Group Two status in 2003.

After landing the Wolferton Handicap at the Royal meeting, and romping home by 17 lengths at Newmarket, Imperial Stride was sent off the 1 to 2 favourite for his third win on the bounce, and he barely gave punters an anxious moment.

He was always holding Aidan O'Brien's Powerscourt (2 to 1) in the closing stages, eventually coming home a length and a quarter ahead of the Kieren Fallon-ridden Irish raider. Alkaadhem took third ahead of Red Lancer in fourth.

Bruce Raymond, deputy racing manager to Imperial Stride's owner, Saeed Suhail, said: "It was a good performance. This horse is on the up and he is in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on August 7th."

Hills added: "He is a good horse and is improving. That's three wins now and we'll have to go with him and see how good he is."

Meanwhile, Paul Nolan will wait until "much nearer the race" before making a decision on whether Champion Hurdle fourth Accordion Etoile will take his chance in Thursday week's Guinness Galway Hurdle.

Should he line-up for the Grade One handicap, the six-year-old's presence at the top of weights would allow his stablemate and hot favourite Cloone River to race off the same mark as 12 months ago, when he scored under 10st 7lb.

"We are going to hold out as there are certain things that we need to look at," said Nolan today. "It will depend on the ground and the weather.

"It does look like being good ground but you never know with Galway, as when it rains there it comes in absolute torrents. They will both be declared at the five-day stage and we will wait until next week, until much nearer the race before making a decision.

"We have still to make a decision on the long-term plans for both of them," Nolan continued.

"There are four or five top hurdlers in Ireland and I would want to see what they are going to be doing before I make plans for Accordion Etoile. Regardless of what we do, he will have a light campaign here during the summer before having a break."