It is six years since Albion left, but memories of their much-loved former home were revived in equine form yesterday.

Goodbye Goldstone was among the runners for the feature event at Brighton races.

Ashley Carr, part owner and part-time local footballer, was there to watch the seven-year-old, trained at Lewes by Tom McGovern, in the Integra Handicap.

He finished next-to-last, just like the Seagulls in the First Division, which came as no great surprise to Carr.

Goodbye Goldstone, a confirmed mudlark, was almost withdrawn. His chances on unsuitably firm going were reflected by odds of 33-1.

Carr was assistant to Frankie Howard, the Goldstone groundsman, for two years during the reigns of Chris Cattlin and Alan Mullery.

"We purchased the horse at the time when the Goldstone had just been sold and a couple of the other owners are Brighton fans," Carr explained.

"He's had loads of problems, but we have really stuck with him. A lot of owners would have baled out long ago."

The perseverance of Carr and fellow owners like the Veaseys, who run a stud farm in Chailey and are stewards at Brighton racecourse, was rewarded when Goodbye Goldstone triumphed on his favoured soft going at Windsor a year ago.

There was never much chance of a repeat yesterday in a race won by Mostarsil, trained next to the course by Gary Moore and ridden by son Ryan.

The rain arrived too late for Goodbye Goldstone. Held up on the heels of the leaders for much of the one mile four furlong trip, he faded in the straight to finish 12th of the 13 runners.

"It wasn't his ground," Carr said. "We've had nothing but rain for two days but it was still fast, which shows how dry it has been.

"We made a decision to run him because there is a possibility he might go to sale in June. There are a couple of races for him at Windsor at the end of the month, so we wanted to get a run into him."

Carr, 34, has Howard to thank for his interest in racing, which includes a thriving tipping business based in Hassocks.

"Frankie has got a lot to answer for!" he joked. "He liked a little bet. I still speak to him on a regular basis.

"After I left the Goldstone I worked for Victor Chandler (bookmakers)."

Carr owns seven horses including Autumn Fancy, trained by Brian Ellison in Malton, North Yorkshire, and unplaced at York yesterday.

"Brian is my main man," Carr said. "He's got four of them. Everest is the shining light at the moment.

"He won at Sandown and the White Rose handicap at Ascot over a mile. He is going for a big handicap at Epsom on Oaks day.

"I was over in Ireland last week to watch Batswing run at the Punchestown Festival. He won there last year and went back for the same race and finished third.

"He's a good old favourite. He's running at Kelso next week and will have a good chance.

"Ownership is a good way of promoting the business, but above anything else I love it."

Carr also loves his football. "I played for Burgess Hill and had a couple of games for Withdean at the end of the season to help them through their injury crisis.

"It's a bit of a dilemma for me. Saturday is a big day for racing and now that Burgess Hill have been promoted from the County League the extra travelling makes it tricky.

"I want to play, but I don't know whether I am going to be able to cope with running the business and playing for them."

Mostarsil, the 5-1 joint favourite, sent bookies running for cover on a good day for punters.

Etoile Solitaire got favourite backers off to a flying start with a workmanlike victory in the opening J Davies Builders Maiden Stakes.

Ryan Moore looked like completing the first leg of a double by steering Inch By Inch to an all-the-way win.

He led until well inside the sixth and final furlong but Michael Tebbutt on board Etoile Solitaire, a 5-4 shot, followed him through to land the spoils by a length.

It made amends for the Michael Jarvis trained colt's defeat on his previous outing at Thirsk, when he was also a well-backed favourite, and gave Tebbutt his second success since returning from injury.

There was further joy for favourite backers in the second race on the card when Ailincala claimed an overdue victory in the Saltwell Signs Handicap.

The 4-1 chance, trained by Chris Wall and ridden by Richard Mullen, thwarted a brave pillar-to-post bid by Paul Doe on outsider Peregian in the one mile contest.

Flying Spirit completed a hat-trick for market leaders in the Danny Baker Selling Stakes, over one and a half miles.