Weather permitting there is a fantastic jump racing at Ayr and no-one will be looking forward to racing hopefully going ahead more than Lucinda Russell.
The Edinburgh based trainer has a fantastic record at the track and enjoyed a treble on the corresponding card last season.
She has excellent claims with Mysteree in the BetVictor.com novices’ hurdle however Fine Rightly (2.20) is the selection and a horse with a very bright future.
The six-year-old has done nothing but improve since winning a bumper here last season and has finished in the frame in all four starts at the track, winning at prohibitive odds last months on his debut over hurdles.
Fine Rightly turned over Royal Caviar retrospectively on appeal after the two clashed in the Future Champions Flat Race at Navan and that piece of form looks by far the strongest in the race.
Donald McCain won the race last year with Swallow Typhoon and runs Askamore Darsi whilst Gordon Elliot brings Layla Joan from Ireland.
The mare was an impressive scorer over course and distance on her last start and looks a fascinating contender with AP McCoy booked to ride.
Elliot and McCoy team up with Vasco Du Mee in the two and a half miles novices’ chase however Donald McCain’s She Ranks Me (3.25) will be very difficult to beat having her first start over fences. She should relished the forecasted heavy ground more than most of her rival and is rated 135 over hurdles; she should have buckets in hand providing she jumps well enough.
Jim Goldie has his string in good order and he can recoup the money lost on the gamble on Too Cool To Fool (4.00) when finishing second in a competitive handicap chase at the track last month.
He was confidently ridden by James Reveley before ultimately tiring and is now dropped back in trip.
He looks to have solid claims from an unrevised mark.
Another horse with strong course around Ayr is Nicky Richards’ And the Man (4.30) who runs in the two and a half mile BetVictor’s Live Casino handicap chase.
The eight-year-old’s form around the track reads 121 and he is taken to land his third win here at the track with just a 4lb rise from the handicapper for his course and distance win here last month.
Gordon Elliot’s Barneys Honour looks the potential danger down to a 1lb higher mark than his last success and expected to relish the testing conditions.
The Cheltenham 2014 Non Runner Free Bet handicap hurdle can go the way of Scimon Templar (2.55) who should appreciate the step up to two and a half miles.
Pauline Robson’s six-year-old remains unexposed and was unlucky not to get his head at front at Newcastle on his season reappearance, tiring in the closing stages and collared on the line.
He should be stripped fitter for the run and should be able to defy a 4lb.
There’s all-weather racing from Southwell and Bryan Smart’s Playtothewhistle (2.00) should be able to recoup the money lost on a plunge at the track last month. He went off 5/4 favourite for an eight runner maiden however was unable to quicken late-on and catch eventual winner Nick the Odds (runs in the 4.10), he should improve now stepped up to in trip.
Frontier Fighter heads the weights in the 0-95 feature over seven furlongs however David Simcock’s Apostle (3.05) looks the best horse in the race and should go close.
He won a warm handicap at Wolverhampton before finishing third in higher grade at Lingfield and looks to be going the right way to improve further for a stable bang in-form.
For all the latest odds go to BetVictor.com
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