Hi all,
There’s plenty for lovers of both codes to enjoy over the next couple of days. Newbury’s Greenham Meeting gets underway this afternoon as does Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting. Sadly, there’s no racing on ITV afternoon which is a shame as both cards are strong and I have plenty of fancies on the Ayr card.
Inside today’s preview I look ahead to the best of Friday’s action at Newbury and Ayr and I selections from both meetings.
Newbury
2:05 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (Class 3) – 6f
Seventeen have been declared at its treat for those punters who like to get stuck into a big field sprint handicap.
Gisburn won twice over C&D as a juvenile including on soft ground. No wins as a 3-year-old but he ran several good races to suggest he’s on a good mark. Ran no sort of race when 3/1 favourite for a C&D handicap on his final start but he shaped nicely enough when a 4 ¼ length 4th of 19 to Aleezdancer at Doncaster on seasonal return.
Bernardo O’Reilly was a5½ length 5th of 19 to Aleezdancer on his seasonal return at Doncaster. He did the best of the hold-up horses that day and should find things panning out better here. A former C&D winner. He’s 1lb below his last winning mark and very much in the mix if the forecast strong pace materialises.
Tanmawwy won three time last season on a sound surface but was said to have not liked the tacky ground when down the field at Doncaster on his final start. In the mix if ready to roll on his seasonal return but more rain would be a concern.
Marshall Dan bounced back to winning ways over C&D (heavy) last autumn and returned to action with a solid effort when a length 3rd of 12 at Redcar 11-days ago. At 6f he might need more testing ground, but he should give his running once more.
3:50 – Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap (Class 2) – 2m ½ f
Vino Victrix won at Goodwood over 2m last August and finished a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 21 in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. That’s the strongest form on offer and if the ground continues to dry out he’s a big player with Benoit De La Sayette back in the saddle.
Amanda Perrett & Jim Crowley & combined for a winner at Newmarket on Tuesday and they team up with Star Caliber here. The 5-year-old hasn’t won since his juvenile debut in 2020. Ended last season with a solid effort when a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 15 at Chester (2m 2 ½ f). First start for new yard today and isn’t handicapped out of it.
Prince Alex, a progressive staying handicapper on an easy surface as a 3-year-old posted a career best when winning a valuable handicap at Goodwood (1m 6f) as a 4-year-old. Form tailed off after that win and only ran once last year. First start for a new trainer Tom Dascombe today (same ownership) but down to last winning mark. If the stable switch has revived him then he’s nicely treated.
Novel Legend ended his 3-year-old season in good form improving for the step up to 1m 6f+ Winning at Chester (1m 6 ½ f) and then finishing a neck 2nd of 11 at Newmarket (2m). Continued his improvement when beating six rivals at Kempton (2m) 23 days ago. Found plenty for pressure to win last time and a 4lb rise in the weights doesn’t look harsh. Remains capable of better this season.
Ayr
The field sizes are good and there’s plenty of interest on the first day of Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting.
1:15 – Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Afadil improved to finish a 2 length 2nd of 13 to stablemate Blueking d’Oroux in a valuable juvenile handicap hurdle at Ascot last time. Gets a handy 8lb 4-year-old allowance from his older rivals here and has strong claims. Traprain Law has won three of his last four starts and proved his effectiveness for good ground when beating six rivals over C&D last month. Up 5lb and up in class but should continue to run well for the inform Lucinda Russell stable. Scots Poet a winner at Musselburgh two starts back looked set to follow up back at than venue and was going well when making mistakes at the last two hurdles. Up 3lb but likely remains on a competitive mark if as effective away from Musselburgh.
1:50 – Largs Ladies LWOB Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m ½ f
Twin Power, a winner on handicap hurdle debut at Sandown in February. The 6-year-old improved again when head 2nd of 11 back at that venue 12-days later. Struggled back on heavy ground last time. Today’s better ground will suit the 6-year-old but the step up to 3m might not. One who should be well suited to the step up 3m is Atlanta Brave. The 5-year-old looked in need of further when winning at Hereford (2m 5 ½ f) two starts back and that proved a correct view as he disappointed when dropped back to 2m 3f on his handicap hurdle debut at Newbury 27-days ago. Open to further improvement if handling today’s likely quicker ground.
3:00 – Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
The Ayr feature race. Just seven have been declared but four have caught my eye.
Bass Rock as expected improved for going over fences winning impressively on his debut over the larger obstacles at Carlisle in November and the finishing runner-up on handicap chase debut at Wetherby over Christmas. Found the drop back to an extended 2m against him here last time. Has been given a 53 day layoff and could easily resume his progression here.
Richmond Lake won twice over hurdles last season. The 7-year-old was well behind Bass Rock on his chase debut at Carlisle but has improved to win two of his last three starts over fences including beating three rivals at Haydock last month. He’s got a good engine but may prefer slightly softer ground.
Dubai Days, a three time winner at Ayr including C&D comes into the race in good form having beaten nine rivals at Carlisle last month. Up 4lb but he’s a consistent sort who should give his running once more.
Baron De Midleton has returned to form this season for the fitting of the blinkers with his form figures being 12211. Jumped well but got the run of the race out in front when beating two rivals including Tommy’s Oscar at Carlisle last time. He was 8lb out of the weights at Carlisle and although he’s been raised 9lb for that win, he’s just 1lb worse off here. Trainer Brian Ellison is among the winners and has won this race three times in the past decade.
3:35 – Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 3m ½ f
Aurora Thunder, twice a course winner over hurdles the mare was still going well when taking a heavy fall in this race last year. Hasn’t got close to her best on four starts this season but this race has been likely been her target all season.
Bellatrixsa won three times over hurdles last season and the Chester Plate (Chester Cup consolation race) on the level last May. Hasn’t taken to fences on three starts this season but is back down to her last winning mark over hurdles and can go well.
4:45 – Thistle Cabs Group Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m ½ f
Top weight Milan Bridge won three of his four starts over hurdles last season and returned to action with a career best over timber when a 4 length 2nd of 7 to Remastered at Aintree in November. Nowhere close to his useful hurdle form on four starts over fences but need respecting back over the smaller obstacles.
Lepashe, a winner of a point 12 months ago, improved for the return to 3m on handicap debut when head 2nd of 7 at Doncaster 58-days ago. Up 3lb but the 6-year-old should be capable of winning a handicap hurdle off his present mark.
Aramax won the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival when trained by Gordon Elliott. Has struggled for form since but ran his best race since joining Ben Haslem when a 2 ¾ lengths 3rd of 6 at Newcastle (2m 4f) 23-days ago. Likely needs 3m these days and has tumbled down the weights. Yard among the winners on the flat in the past two weeks.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
2:05 – Gisburn – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:50 – Prince Alex – 1pt win – 22/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ayr
3:00 – Baron De Midleton – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Aurora Thunder – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Bellatrixsa – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:45 – Lepashe – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Bet365 and Aramax – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John