Tag Archive for: Ayr

Tix Picks, Tuesday 01/10/24

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Tuesday's UK placepots can be played via Tix at Ayr, Bath, Newcastle & Sedgefield.

But, what is Tix?

A video explainer can be found here.

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A few more pointers can be found in these articles:

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-1/

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-2/

Today's pools

Today's UK meetings, pools and minimum guarantees are as follows...

And we're off to Scotland and some good ground for our six races today, starting with...

Leg 1 : 1.40 Ayr, a 9-runner, Class 5, 3yo+ handicap over 1m...

None of these come here in great form, but Yaaser and Gracious Leader did both win their penultimate races with the latter also third last time out. Both drop in class here and the fast-finisher Gracious Leader wears a first-time tongue tie on his debut for George Boughey, whose horses are running well right now. His horses also fare pretty well with 3lb claimer Tommie Jakes in the saddle and George has a good record with horses making their yard debut after a move...

Yaaser won here over course and distance on his penultimate run (the second run of his three races in three days here last month!), whilst Tele Red won this race last year off a mark a pound higher than today. He won six races back and has actually been running better than recent results might suggest. Elsewhere there's very little form to go off, although Detective did win four starts ago and Urban Sprawl has some useful jockey and trainer/jockey stats behind him for his run off a dangerous career-low mark...

Instant Expert also points to (2) Yaaser and (5) Tele Red...

...so I'll take both of them along with the afore-mentioned in-form yard debutant (7) Gracious Leader

Leg 2 : 2.15 Ayr, a 4-runner, Class 5, 2yo handicap over 6f...

Despite being 0 from 4, Weissmuller is the obvious pick here. He has been in the first three home on two of his three UK starts and was 4th of 27 in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot and is rated as highly as 92 by the assessor. However, third place won't be good enough for us here today, so I'll also take Blue Pinatubo as a backup. He showed good early pace on debut at Goodwood back in July and although he faded late on, this is an easier task down three classes.

Leg 3 : 2.50 Ayr, a 10-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ handicap over 1m2f...

A really open race here with Soowaih of immediate interest running off the same mark as when only denied by a neck at Hamilton eight days ago having been caught very late on. The drop back in trip should help him here too. Top weight Pol Roger is a former course and distance winner and although he was only 7th of 11 here over track/trip last time out, that was his first time that he had failed to make the frame after two wins, four runner-up finishes and a third place in seven runs and his C&D form reads 112227.

Spirit of Acklam also drops two classes here after a disappointing handicap debut at Newbury when last home of 13, but this 3yo had won his two previous outings, so it's not beyond the realms of possibilities that he'll resume where he left off at Ripon back in April when winning by three lengths over today's trip, whilst another who has been running well is Young Fire who is showing little sign of slowing down at the age of nine. He wasn't at this best on soft ground at Doncaster last time out, but won a 17-runner handicap at York on his previous run for a second win in four starts and has seven top-three finishes from his last ten outings.

Pol Roger and Young Fire catch the eye from Instant Expert...

...and with (1) Pol Roger also likely to set the pace from stall 1, I have to take him here...

I also want to take (5) Soowaih based on that last run and I've a marginal preference for (4) Young Fire over Spirit of Acklam, There's probably not much in it, but Young Fire will probably offer more value in the markets.

Leg 4 : 3.25 Ayr, a 6-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ handicap over 7½f...

Wow, only six run but it looks super competitive. Jenni won over course and distance ten days ago just a week after being a runner-up at Musselburgh. She's only up 3lbs here, so remains of interest. Danzan ran a really good race to finish third of twenty-seven in the Bronze Cup here eleven days ago and he now drops two classes. Redarna won this race in both 2020 and 2021, Abduction is a 3-time course and distance winner and Red Mirage won five starts ago. Clasina is the only one yet to win a race and now she steps up in class, so I'd rule her out now.

I will take (4) Danzan and (5) Jenni on their recent runs and it's really a toss-up between the other three with (3) Red Mirage probably edging it on form.

Leg 5 : 4.00 Ayr, a 9-runner, Class 6, 3yo+ handicap over 7½f...

In racecard order, (1) Novak, (2) Sir Garfield and (5) Alpine Sierra struck me as ones who might go well here, especially Sir Garfield whose last six handicap runs have seen him finish 122282 and he runs off the same mark as his C&D runner-up finish last time out and it is he and Alpine Sierra who make most sense here from an Instant Expert point of view...

Pace is often the key here over this track/trip...

...but in the absence of any real proven front-runners, I'm hoping that class will count, so I'm sticking to my original shortlist of (1) Novak, (2) Sir Garfield & (5) Alpine Sierra.

Leg 6 : 4.35 Ayr, a 9-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ handicap over 6f...

You could probably make a case for five or six of these. The 10yr old veteran Muscika has been a runner-up in each of his last two starts and Act Of Violence was also a runner-up a fortnight ago. Jonny Concrete has made the frame in four of his last seven and was only beaten by three lengths in the Bronze Cup here and now drops two classes. Rousing Encore isn't in the best of form right now, but has dropped to a dangerously low mark of 78 having last won off a mark of 85, whilst Moyola has two wins and three third placed finishes from his last seven runs and he was only 3.5 lengths off the winner in the Bronze Cup too, despite coming off a 10-week layoff. He's down in class and should improve for the run.

Instant Expert backs up the competitiveness of this race...

...whilst recent pace scores only rule Moyola out of the reckoning from my original shortlist...

I think I need to be with three of the top four of that graphic and I think it's going to be (3) Muscika, (4) Jonny Concrete & (6) Act of Violence ahead of the possibly unlucky Rousing Encore for the finale.

All of which gives me...

Leg 1: (2) Yaaser, (5) Tele Red & (7) Gracious Leader

Leg 2: (1) Blue Pinatubo & (4) Weissmuller

Leg 3: (1) Pol Roger, (4) Young Fire & (5) Soowaih

Leg 4: (3) Red Mirage, (4) Danzan & (5) Jenni

Leg 5: (1) Novak, (2) Sir Garfield & (5) Alpine Sierra

Leg 6: (3) Muscika, (4) Jonny Concrete & (6) Act of Violence

...and here's how I'd play them, whilst trying to stay close to a nominal £20 total stake...

Good Luck!
Chris



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Craig Lidster contemplates next step for Alfa Kellenic

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Group targets await Craig Lidster’s “one in a million” filly Alfa Kellenic after she secured her sixth successive victory this year in the Ayr Silver Cup on Saturday.

The daughter of Havana Grey has had a remarkable campaign so far, losing her maiden status on the all-weather in January and then switching to turf in the summer.

Since then she has become a veritable winning machine, winning a further five times in a row whilst working her way through the handicap ranks into increasingly competitive company.

After a valuable success at York during the Ebor meeting she lined up at Ayr for the Silver Cup as the 9-2 favourite and once again came out on top, powering to a length-and-three-quarters win under 3lb-claimer William Pyle.

Lidster now has a step up grade in mind for the filly, who could head to France or stay closer to home in a bid to gain some black type.

“She’s such a tough individual, it’s phenomenal to have her in the yard. She has done us proud,” he said.

“She doesn’t show how good she is at home, it’s when she gets to the track that she comes alive.

“She makes everything very simple at home, she’s got a great mind about her and is just so straightforward.

“There are four races that we’re looking at, there’s a Listed fillies’ race at Newmarket in a couple of weeks (Boadicea Stakes, October 12), there’s a Group Three at Ascot coming up (Bengough Stakes, October 5) and there are two races at Chantilly – a Listed race and a Group Three.

“She’s definitely earned it from what she did in the Silver Cup, all day long, she ran against a lot of very good horses under top weight so credit where credit is due.

“She just put her head down and galloped to the line, I couldn’t be more proud of her.

“How she has conducted herself these last six runs has just been a testament to herself, she’s one in a million to me.”



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Cheveley Park bid not out of the question for Maw Lam

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Adrian Nicholls will consider a quick return to action in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes with Maw Lam following her narrow defeat at Ayr on Saturday.

Third in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Acclamation disappointed in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster, but bounced back with a fine effort in defeat in Scotland, charging home to finish a neck second to Sky Majesty in the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes.

With the season drawing to a close, options for Maw Lam are few and far between, but she does hold an entry at Group One level on the Rowley Mile on Saturday, should connections decide to roll the dice.

“It was a really good run and I’m really pleased with her. Obviously it was a blip on her CV at Doncaster, but it was just one of those things and we’re right back on track,” said Nicholls.

“Jamie Spencer looked after her at Doncaster, hence why we could back her up and it was a great run. It’s always frustrating finishing second, but every race those good horses run in are so competitive and I’m just happy that she’s come back on track and seen the six furlongs out really well.

“She’s got more black type, and I am going to win a stakes race in this country sooner or later!”

He added: “We’re coming to the end of the year now so whether we have one more go, I’m not sure. I haven’t discussed it with Chris (Hirst, owner) yet, but obviously she’s still in the Cheveley Park.

“I don’t know what the ground is going to be like, it’s very changeable at the moment. She wouldn’t want gut-wrenching ground, I don’t think.

“We’ll see how she is and discuss whether we go to the Cheveley Park, if not that could probably be it for the season.”



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Sky Majesty reigns for Haggas at Ayr

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Sky Majesty maintained her unbeaten record with a gutsy success in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Firth of Clyde at Ayr.

The Group Three contest attracted a field of 13 fillies but only one of them was unbeaten.

Admittedly, Sky Majesty had only had run once but the form had been boosted and she clearly had plenty of potential, so much so she was sent off the 16-5 favourite.

For one so inexperienced she looked very straightforward, with Callum Rodriguez coming down the centre of the track and making his challenge entering the final furlong.

Irish challenger Grand Marques came with a run and the final contender was Maw Lam, who finished third in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but Sky Majesty held on by a neck and a short head.

Sky Majesty (right) is a Group Three winner after just two runs
Sky Majesty (right) is a Group Three winner after just two runs (Steve Welsh/PA)

Haggas said: “She did really well and she had to be really tough.

“She’s come a long way in a short time, she didn’t win her first race by far and she hasn’t won by far today.

“She did well because she had no experience against some experienced horses, so it was a very pleasing performance so it was good to see.

“I actually think a bit more cut in the ground would suit her better too.

“I suspect she’ll run again but there’s nothing set in stone, possibly the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (at Chantilly). That’s a Group Two against the boys but it might be worth a look on October 12.”



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Star shines brightest for hat-trick hero Billy Loughnane

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Star Of Mehmas was the highlight of a good day at the office for Billy Loughnane as the rising star of the weighing room claimed a treble at Ayr on Friday.

Loughnane kicked off the afternoon with success in the very first race, taking the Livescore Bet Fillies’ Nursery Handicap aboard George Boughey’s Beronia at 6-1.

The young jockey then partnered Richard Hughes’ Star Of Mehmas as she claimed her third win on the bounce in the British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes.

The filly made her debut at Windsor in July and then switched to the all-weather for runs at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, winning both times by comfortable margins over five furlongs.

At Ayr she stepped up to Listed level as a 12-1 chance and proved herself to have plenty of promise with a smart one-length victory.

“It’s been a good day, she’s very straightforward and she was tough when I asked her to pick up,” the rider told Racing TV of Star Of Mehmas.

“Richard Hughes told me that she was very straightforward and told me to just have her in the first couple of horses and see how she goes from there, she’s got a very nice cruising speed.”

The final goal of the hat-trick came in the Microtech Group Handicap, where Loughnane was aboard Jim Goldie’s 9-2 chance Yaaser.

The horse was making a swift return to the track having run on Thursday when unplaced over the same trip, but this time he came out on top to prevail by three-quarters of a length from stablemate Braes Of Doune, who also ran on Thursday.



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Portland hero Affair hunting Gold again at Ayr

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American Affair is bidding to back up his Portland victory and provide a tonic for trainer Jim Goldie in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap on Saturday.

The four-year-old has been on the up all season and finished in the money in all seven starts over five to five and a half furlongs.

His mark has risen from 70 to a current rating of 94, with his last performance a career-best so far as he triumphed at Doncaster under Paul Mulrennan to take home the winning pot of over £50,000.

That run was only last weekend and after a quick turnaround he will carry a 5lb penalty for the success, making his total allocation 9st 2lb for the 25-runner event.

Should he be successful, he will become the first Scottish-trained winner since Roman Warrior in 1975 and will complete the set of Ayr cups for Mulrennan after his prior wins in the silver and bronze races.

Goldie has two chances in the race with Jordan Electrics also set to partake, but the trainer will have to look on from home as he recovers from a hip operation.

Mulrennan said: “I’m really looking forward to riding him, he was very good in the Portland and a change of tactics seemed to suit him.

“He’s a sprinter on the upgrade, he’s done nothing but improve all year.

“It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, it’s our Royal Ascot, the Gold Cup up here, so it’d be great to win it.

“Jim’s recovering at home so it’d be great for him, I’m not sure he’s going to make it up.

“Scotland haven’t had a Gold Cup winner since 1975 so it’d be brilliant to do it for him, I’ve a Bronze Cup and a Silver Cup so I’ve just the one missing.

“Jim’s a real character, he’s a very good trainer and we had a couple of winners on Thursday, so the horses are in form.

“I had a hard choice to make because I could have ridden Northern Express or Jordan Electrics, so fingers crossed.”

Mick Appleby’s Billyjoh brings with him some good form in valuable handicaps having finished second in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and third in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

He will be ridden by Alistair Rawlinson from stall 18 for his 15th start of a busy and profitable season.

Billyjoh at Haydock
Billyjoh at Haydock (Richard Sellers/PA)

“The track and trip should suit him and the ground will be all right for him. Obviously it’s a tough race, the Ayr Gold Cup, but he’s going there in good order and hopefully should have a decent chance,” said Appleby.

“He seems to like the bigger fields, the draw shouldn’t be a problem and there’s a bit of pace around him which will suit.”

Kevin Ryan has four horses set to line up, with Aleezdancer carrying the silks of co-owner Jack Berry for his third tilt at the race.

The five-year-old would prefer a soft surface and appreciate any rain if it were to materialise, with his 2023 effort seeing him beaten only three lengths when 12th on good to soft going.

“He would have a fair chance, but he likes some give in the ground,” said Berry, who retired from training himself in 2000.

Beverley Races – Tuesday May 11th 2021
Aleezdancer winning at Beverley in 2021 (Mike Egerton/PA)

“When he ran in the Stewards’ Cup last year he finished fifth but he actually won his race on his side. It’s annoying when that happens, it happened to me when I was training and Pivotal beat Mind Games in the King’s Stand!

“If there’s give in the ground I think he’s got a squeak. At the end of last season he ran at York in a race won by Montassib who is now a Group One winner, so it just shows you need a Group horse to win these races.

“When we won the Ayr Gold Cup in 1988 with So Careful, he was bottom-weight off 72 – he’d only just scrape into the Bronze Cup these days!

“It would be very poignant if he won as So Careful’s owner Tommy Doherty died last week, so I’d dedicate it to his memory.”



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Big sprint handicaps looming large for Alfa Kellenic

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Craig Lidster is keeping his options open with Alfa Kellenic after the filly won for the fourth time in a row in the Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap.

The daughter of Havana Grey was held up at the back of the field before making headway on the near side approaching the furlong pole.

Tom Eaves then asked her for extra effort and she got up in the final strides to head Mythical Phoenix on the line by a short head at odds of 4-1.

Aberama Gold was three-quarters of a length further adrift in third.

That completed a hat-trick on the turf this season following more straightforward wins at Thirsk and York in the hands of 5lb claimer William Pyle.

She also came home at the head of the field on the all-weather at Newcastle at the beginning of the year before taking a break ahead of her turf campaign and with black type the ultimate objective, Lidster is considering what next with the three-year-old.

Lidster: “She’s still improving and has got there in the end against older horses.

“She had plenty to do, but she’s a very versatile filly and she’s a real good prospect going forward, isn’t she?

“The Ayr Gold Cup would be a target and we’ve got her in the Stewards’ Cup, which would be a target, but obviously getting some black type is our main target at some point this year.”

Kevin Ryan’s newcomer King’s Call made the perfect start to his racecourse career in the Hospitality At Scottish Sun Ladies Night Novice Stakes.

The Dandy Man colt raced keenly at the head of affairs before being shaken up to keep on and come home a length clear of We Dare To Dream, again in the hands of Eaves, at 3-1.

Eaves told Racing TV: “Kevin was very pleased him. He’s done everything right at home. I really like the way he went through the race.

“He stayed well but at the same time he showed plenty of speed. But very pleased with him. He just went through the gears nicely.”



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‘Mixed emotions’ for connections of Surrey Quest after epic Scottish National

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Connections of Surrey Quest may have suffered agony at Ayr in the Coral Scottish Grand National, but could have bigger and better days on the horizon, with next year’s Grand National now entering calculations.

After four miles of action, Toby Lawes’ progressive seven-year-old was left to fight out a thrilling finish to the Ayr feature with Willie Mullins’ Macdermott, with the trainers’ title-chasing Irishman’s runner coming out on top after not only a titanic battle to the line but an excruciating wait while the judge deliberated over the result.

A standard-bearer over jumps for the Surrey Racing syndicate, Surrey Quest’s owners headed to Ayr full of confidence in their Kevin Brogan-ridden 20-1 shot after some promising results this season.

And despite being left with “mixed emotions” following the nose reversal at the hands of the Danny Mullins-ridden winner, they can take comfort that their charge has continued on the upward curve that has already seen him strike twice in his four starts this term.

“We’ve got mixed emotions and we thought the horse was in absolute brilliant shape heading up there,” said Clive Clive Hadingham, co-founder of Surrey Racing with Steve Grubb.

“Statistically we might have needed the run, but other than that everything went to plan and Toby was very meticulous in his preparations. He came here in great shape and everything went to plan, we just lost out on the nod.

“Winning is everything in this business and coming second, not matter how close, it feels like we came nowhere. We’d have been happy with a top-seven finish to be honest so we have to be proud. Kevin and Toby have done a fantastic job with this horse.

Warwick Races – Saturday 15th January
Surrey Quest just missed out on glory at Ayr (Robert Perry/PA)

“We know he is a good horse and we wouldn’t have come up here if we didn’t think we had a chance. Surrey Racing as a company doesn’t go to races we don’t think we have a chance in and we’re just so proud of the run – we honestly thought at the line we had done it.

“Willie Mullins has so much ammunition and it’s just unfortunate we have come up against one of his and I guess the funny thing is if he wasn’t going for the championship he might not have been here today.”

Surrey Quest holds an entry for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on the final day of the jumps season, but his exertions north of the border make it unlikely he will try to replicate what Kitty’s Light’s achieved 12 months ago and make a rapid reappearance.

Instead sights are fully turned to Liverpool and the famous Grand National fences where Surrey Quest could take in December’s Becher Chase ahead a crack at the big one itself in 12 months’ time.

Hadingham continued: “It’s just mixed emotions, we’re so proud of him and we’ve had a super time up here in Ayr. I guess now we know we’re going to go on to bigger and better things with him.

“We might have a look at the Grand National now and we might look at coming back to Ayr again. He’s such an economical jumper that now the National has changed a bit and the fences are slightly lower, that is something we can look at.

“There’s so many big races next year he can go for and the Becher is one we will look at and we’ll take it from there.”



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Macdermott secures big Scottish National success for Mullins

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Macdermott struck a potentially decisive blow for Willie Mullins in the jumps trainers’ championship race by securing a thrilling success in the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The unexposed novice – an 18-1 chance having been ante-post favourite at one stage – edged out Surrey Quest in a memorable late battle to become the first six-year-old to claim this prize since Earth Summit 30 years ago.

Mullins suffered a double setback early on, as Mr Incredible pulled himself up before the first fence and then We’llhavewan fell at that obstacle, but he still had more ammunition, four in fact – and that proved enough.

Sara Bradstock’s Mr Vango was the gamble of the race, being backed into favourite near the off, and he settled down as the front-runner under Ben Jones, with Whistleinthedark and Klarc Kent keeping him company.

The eight-year-old Mr Vango was still in front heading out for the final circuit, but he was passed on the turn for home, as Macdermott and Surrey Quest kicked on.

The advantage swung one way and then the other during a ding-dong battle between that pair up the run-in, but it was Macdermott who just got the nod when it mattered most, with only a nose separating them.

Git Maker stayed on for third, while Mullins picked up more valuable prize-money via fourth-placed Klarc Kent at 50-1.

Mullins admitted he feared the worst as the front two crossed the line, saying: “I thought we were beaten, but then one of my owners opened up the betting on his app and we were favourite and the second horse was 14-1. The odds changed a bit in their favour, but then the result came out.”

Scottish Grand National 2024 – Ayr Racecourse – Saturday 20th April
Macdermott (front left) edges out Surrey Quest (Robert Perry/PA).

Earth Summit famously went on to claim Grand National glory at Aintree and Mullins believes Macdermott could follow in his footsteps.

He told Racing TV: “To me, the way he jumped was spectacular, I’d have no problem aiming him for Aintree next year or for the Irish National, we’ll see but we’ll be aiming for all those chases.

“He’s got age on his side, so it’s fantastic. He just got experience every day he went out; we started him off at two miles and just kept running him for experience, because he hasn’t got runs under his belt and last year it took me all season to get him fit enough.

“He’s a big, lazy fella and he just takes so much training. And he’s so laid back, but now he’s getting the hang of it and if we can get him in this sort of form, it’ll be straight to those kind of staying chases for him to run in.”

Reflecting on a dramatic race, Mullins – still riding high after Aintree glory with I Am Maximus a week ago – said: “We had one go before the first and one fall at the first, then we had two up the front and two out the back, so I said ‘well we’ve both ends of the race covered’.

Celebration time for Danny Mullins
Celebration time for Danny Mullins (Robert Perry/PA)

“The two up front finished first and fourth and Spanish Harlem came on to be sixth, so he ran a great race and there’s going to be a good race in him too.

“The sun’s out, it’s a fantastic crowd and it’s just turned out to be an amazing day.”

The winning jockey, who is the trainer’s nephew, told ITV Racing: “An unexposed Willie Mullins novice in a staying handicap chase is what you want to be on.

“He has his jumping issues and we ended up on the deck one day in Limerick, but even the fall that day has taught him how to be efficient.

“He made a few mistakes out there today, but I got a fantastic jump at the fourth- and third-last and he was good and tough when I needed him at the back of the last.”



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Fortune favours Alan King ace in Scottish Champion Hurdle

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Favour And Fortune bravely fended off a whole host of rivals from title-chasing yards to claim victory in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Alan King’s six-year-old swept past the Paul Nicholls-trained front-runner Rubaud but was then pressed hard by Bialystok, from the Willie Mullins Irish raiding party.

However, Favour And Fortune – who was sixth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – kept on finding more for jockey Tom Cannon and his willing spirit got its just reward, as he rallied to score by half a length at 5-1.

Bialystok was a touch unlucky in second, having been denied a clear passage after coming through to challenge at the final flight.

Cracking Rhapsody finished third, while Afadil was fourth for Nicholls and Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud plugged on for fifth.

L’Eau Du Sud was sent off favourite, having finished second in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he had been unfortunate to be penalised a total of 9lb for those runner-up efforts and that just took its toll.

King told Racing TV: “I must say that when Paul (Townend, on Bialystok) headed us halfway up the run-in, I thought we were in trouble, but he battled back very well.

“It’s the first time since the start of the season that he’s been back on better ground, we’ve been running him on heavy and he’s such a good-actioned horse and his jumping was much better on better ground.

Tom Cannon in the drive position aboard Favour And Fortune
Tom Cannon in the drive position aboard Favour And Fortune (Robert Perry/PA)

“He’s finished for the season – win, lose or draw, we were going to pull up stumps after today. Off the top of my head, I’d like to stay hurdling for another season, but we’ll enjoy today and worry about that in the autumn.

“He will make a chaser, but I think that could be farther down the line.”

Proud Scotsman King added: “I love coming back up here, back home, the place is buzzing and it’s a great atmosphere.

“Having done the three festivals, I felt Cheltenham was a bit subdued, Aintree was brilliant and this nearly tops them, it’s lovely to come back up.”



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Skelton edges in front of Mullins in epic trainers’ title tussle

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Dan Skelton edged back to the top of the table for the British jumps trainers’ championship after a crucial treble at Ayr.

The Alcester trainer was a little shy of £31,000 adrift of Irish champion Willie Mullins on the leaderboard ahead of the meeting, the first day of the valuable Coral Scottish Grand National fixture which could prove so pivotal in the destination of the title, in which Paul Nicholls will also have a big say.

Shakeyatailfeather finished second in the Abbott Risk Consulting Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and Catch Him Derry landed the Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap Hurdle as the 5-6 favourite to kick off Skelton’s afternoon, after which Punta Del Este outran odds of 25-1 to take the feature Coral “We’re Here For It” Handicap Hurdle, which was worth £16,338 to the winner.

Theformismighty finished fourth in the same race to add another £1,884 to the total, with Presenting Nelly duly providing another victory at 5-1 in division two of the GS Group ‘Hands & Heels’ Handicap Hurdle that brought the day to a close.

For that win she pocketed £5,281, putting Skelton back in front by just under £5,000 heading into Saturday, where he has 10 entries across Ayr and Bangor and when Mullins will play his hand with three horses in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and six in the Scottish Grand National.

Speaking to Racing TV after Punta Del Este’s win, Skelton said: “I’m sure all the mathematicians will be calculating it all, but tomorrow’s the important day for the championship.

“The three of us are in the Scottish Grand National and in all the races really, tomorrow will be a big day.

“It’s a privilege to have the owners come up here and be looked after Ayr, the track is always in as good condition as it can be and given the winter we’ve had I think they’ve done a great job with that.

“Every course has its unique atmosphere and the Scottish Grand National is unique indeed.

“L’Eau Du Sud is the obvious one for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, he’s the favourite for the race after a very good run at Cheltenham.

Nicholls, meanwhile, claimed his share of the prize-money on offer to keep himself competitive ahead of the two big weekends to come, with the season drawing to a close at Sandown in a week’s time.

Nicholls was in fact the first trainer to strike a blow at Ayr as Outlaw Peter won the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase under Harry Cobden as the 7-2 joint-favourite.

Nicholls also took home some of place money on offer, with Beau Balko finishing third in the Seko Logistics Scotland Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and Don’t Tell Su the runner-up of the GS Group “Hands & Heels” Handicap Hurdle.



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Skelton relying on Sud missile to strike crucial blow

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Dan Skelton is banking on a big run from L’Eau Du Sud in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle to keep him in with a chance of claiming a first trainers’ title.

Runner-up in two of the most competitive handicaps of the season, the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, the six-year-old has been aimed at this ever since.

Cheltenham week went swimmingly for Skelton and co-owners Sir Alex Ferguson and John Hales, but the feeling was L’Eau Du Sud was mugged by the Willie Mullins-trained Ebor winner Absurde.

“He’s in good order and this is the race we’ve had in mind since Cheltenham, when he was second in the County Hurdle,” said Skelton.

L'Eau du Sud jumped the last in front at Cheltenham but was caught close home
L’Eau Du Sud jumped the last in front at Cheltenham but was caught close home (Steven Paston/PA)

“That was a very good run considering Absurde came from nowhere and showed great Flat speed late on.

“The ground will be perfect for him, the track is no issue, he travels very well and I’d say he’s a very big player, but the prices reflect that.

“If we’ve any chance of overhauling Willie, we need L’Eau Du Sud to figure pretty well, to be honest.

“It looked like we had it won at Cheltenham, but (Paul) Townend had different ideas and used all the Flat speed, so fair play to them, they picked up on the day but we’ll be looking to collect on Saturday.”

Skelton is battling with his old boss Paul Nicholls and Irish champion trainer Mullins, who runs Westport Cove, Bialystok and Alvaniy.

His son and assistant Patrick feels the middle one of that trio may be their best chance.

“Westport Cove is a horse with an awful lot of ability, but he’s a very difficult ride. At Cheltenham, he lost his head and my big worry is that it’s probably too big a field for him, as he has to be dropped out, which is hard to do in a big-field handicap like that,” he said on a Zoom call with the track.

“Bialystok is a Flat-bred horse who I could see winning on the Flat in the summer. There’s a race in this fella. He was unlucky at the DRF, when he got brought down at the second last, and it didn’t happen for him at Cheltenham. If the ground isn’t too soft, he’ll have his chance.

“We also run Alvaniy, who is 8lb out of the handicap but he’s a horse I definitely think is better than his mark. While it will be difficult from 8lb out of the weights, he’s a horse that could pick up place money. There’s a big race in him, but it won’t be easy from out of the handicap.”

Nicholls runs last year’s winner Rubaud off top weight and Afadil.

Rubaud was a good winner of the race last year
Rubaud was a good winner of the race last year (Jane Barlow/PA)

“Rubaud won this race stylishly last year off a mark of 135 on good ground and has a much harder task this time off 148,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“I don’t think he was right when he ran below par last time on heavy ground at Wincanton. He seems in a good place at the moment but I’d say he has it all to do off top weight on ground that is softer than he prefers.

“Afadil been running at the top of his form this spring and comes here a week after finishing third in a competitive race at Aintree, despite losing ground after a standing start.

“With Freddie Gingell claiming a handy 5lb, Afadil has a lovely light weight of only 10st 3lb and has a sporting each-way chance.”



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Mullins looking to hit title rivals for six in Scottish National

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With the British trainers’ title on the line, Willie Mullins sends a six-strong squad to contest the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

Mullins is not only seeking his first win in the £200,000 feature, he has never had a single winner at the track. But that could all change this weekend, as he saddles 18 runners across the afternoon.

His National team consists of Macdermott, Mr Incredible, Spanish Harlem, Ontheropes, Klarc Kent and We’llhavewan and assistant trainer Patrick Mullins ran the rule over the sextet in a Zoom call organised by the racecourse.

“Macdermott is an improving horse, he was always going to be a big chaser, he’s a strong type and was always going to improve for a fence and over a trip,” he said.

“He was good the last time out at Fairyhouse and he’s the kind of horse who improves with racing, we struggle to get him fit at home, to be honest, he needs racing to get the weight off him.

“He’s running off a much higher mark (12lb) and that’s going to be a big ask in a far more competitive race.

Patrick Mullins rides Mr Incredible
Patrick Mullins rides Mr Incredible (Adam Davy/PA)

“I ride Mr Incredible, he didn’t get very far at Aintree, he’s fresh and well, so he’ll take his chance.

“Off a mark of 153, with 11st 9lb, it’s going to be difficult but if he could run into a place, that would be fantastic. We’re hoping he jumps off, that’s the first thing!

“Paul (Townend) was keen to ride Spanish Harlem and he’s a horse we’ve always thought an awful lot of. He has disappointed us a little because his work at home has been far superior to his form on the track.

“It’s his first handicap, so he’ll have to jump pretty sharp, but we’d like to think he’s better than a mark of 140. Paul just thought he had more room for improvement than Macdermott.

“Sean O’Keeffe rides Klarc Kent, very much an old-fashioned chaser, a horse who really should come into his own over four miles. He’s a novice off a low weight but he needs to improve.

“Brian Hayes rides Ontheropes. He got a leg after he won the Munster National and has been disappointing since but he was coming back to form last time and could be just coming to form at the right time.

“We’llhavewan was second in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and ran well in the Irish National when perhaps he didn’t get home, but I think he just made some crucial jumping errors which just knocked him back.

“We’ve put the cheekpieces back on and that should help him jump sharper. He’s a little out of the handicap but Kieran Callaghan is our claiming rider, a local guy and he’s very good. I could see him running into the money.”

Dan Skelton is battling with Mullins for the title and is represented by Ballygrifincottage.

“He’s a horse that just recently has done really well. He had a bad autumn and winter but his form as a novice hurdler and early novice chaser looked very good,” said Skelton.

“For whatever reason, we lost him completely and everything just went to pot but he’s back in great form now and it was a good run at Ascot on his comeback and an even better run at Sandown when second the last day.

“I don’t think four miles will be a problem, but you never actually know until you try it – there is a slight unknown with that, but I go into it with the expectation that he’ll stay the trip.”

Trying to cling on to his title is Paul Nicholls, who runs top-weight Stay Away Fay and Broken Halo.

Paul Nicholls with top weight Stay Away Fay
Paul Nicholls with top weight Stay Away Fay (Adam Davy/PA)

Nicholls told Betfair of the former: “He’s a class horse but life isn’t going to be easy for him running off top weight of 12st off a mark of 158.

“It just didn’t happen for him in the Turners at Cheltenham, where he was never happy, didn’t travel in the ground and his jumping let him down.

“We’ve removed the cheekpieces he wore there, as they didn’t seem to work, and I’ve felt for some time he would be suited by marathon trips. The track at Ayr should be much more suitable for him.

“Broken Halo was in with a shout when falling two out in the London National at Sandown in December and won at Taunton last month. He looks an interesting outsider.”

Brian Ellison’s Anglers Crag arrives chasing a five-timer and proved his stamina when winning the Eider Chase.

“This has been the plan since the Eider and he’s in good form. He’s been blood tested and scoped, everything looks clean and he looks a million dollars, so we just want a bit of luck in running now,” said Ellison.

“A bit of soft ground would help keep the job right for him. He’s gone up again in the weights, but you deserve to when you win, don’t you? It’s when you finish second and you go up that I don’t like!

“Willie Mullins obviously runs six, he’s struggling for winners!”

The form choice is arguably Jamie Snowden’s Git Maker, second to subsequent Grade One winner Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham.

“He ran a blinder to finish second at Cheltenham, pulling a long way clear of the third horse, and the winner has obviously come out and won a Grade One at Aintree, so the form has certainly been franked,” said Snowden.

Git Maker caught a tartar at Cheltenham
Git Maker caught a tartar at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA)

“We’re up 1lb for that and we go there in good form. Obviously, it’s a highly competitive race, as you’d expect, but we couldn’t be happier with our chap and he gets in off 10st 3lb.

“I think he’ll stay well. They’ve had a bit of rain there and you would certainly hope the ground would be on the softer side, as he would definitely want a bit of cut in the ground.

“With a little bit of luck in running, hopefully he’ll have a chance.”

Emma Lavelle’s My Silver Lining has been consistent in long-distance chases all season, winning the Classic Chase at Warwick.

“She seems in great order. I was sort of looking for reasons not to go – was she flat, or was the ground not soft enough, or whatever, and none of the reasons came,” said Lavelle.

“I’m really happy with her, of course it’s a competitive race and with the championship the way it is, it’s probably more competitive than some years, but she’s really well, she’s as honest as they come, she’ll keep galloping and jumping and we’re just hopeful that she’ll put up another personal best.”



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Successful Ayr raid could go a long way to clinching title for Mullins

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The last time Willie Mullins had a chance of winning the British trainers’ title, Paul Nicholls landed the Coral Scottish Grand National with Vicente before going on to secure top spot in the table at Sandown.

This time around, the all-conquering Mullins is throwing everything at it, with 18 runners on the big card at Ayr on Saturday, as he attempts to emulate the legendary Vincent O’Brien, something the Closutton handler’s son and assistant Patrick acknowledges would be “incredibly special”.

While the victory of I Am Maximus in the Grand National at Aintree put Mullins in the driving seat, the team are taking nothing for granted, based on what happened in 2016.

This year, they are involved in a three-way battle with Dan Skelton joining the fray, and Mullins jnr thinks if any of the three manage to win either the National or the Scottish Champion Hurdle this weekend, it will go a long way to deciding the outcome.

“We find ourselves in a position we weren’t particularly expecting, so we’re going to be putting everything we can towards it now,” he said.

Willie Mullins is aiming to emulate the great Vincent O'Brien
Willie Mullins is aiming to emulate the great Vincent O’Brien (PA)

“It’s 70-odd years since Vincent O’Brien was the only Irish trainer to win the British jumps title, so to emulate him would be something that would be incredibly special.

“In 2016, we actually came into this weekend ahead as well, I think, but Paul Nicholls pulled a rabbit out of the hat and won the Scottish National with Vicente at 14-1 and that was the difference in the end.”

Despite Mullins’ total dominance over the National Hunt scene, his victory last weekend was only his second Grand National, 19 years after Hedgehunter provided him with his first.

“There were a few sore heads on Wednesday after the (homecoming) parade, but you have to celebrate the good days,” Mullins told a Zoom call organised by Ayr Racecourse.

I Am Maximus on his homecoming in Leighlinbridge
I Am Maximus on his homecoming in Leighlinbridge (Niall Carson/PA)

“It was 19 years since we won the Grand National and to win a second is great. We had seven runners, but if I Am Maximus had come down, we wouldn’t have had any in the first six, so you need a bit of luck. I wasn’t sure if he’d adapt to the course, but he did very well.

“We’ve celebrated but we’re back on track now and focussed on Ayr, trying to bring home some sterling.”

There has never been an Irish-trained Scottish National winner since the race moved from Bogside to Ayr and Mullins has never had a winner at the track either.

He went on: “It’s an incredible statistic. I can’t wait to come over to Ayr, it always looks a brilliant crowd for the big racedays there.

“Every year, I watch the Scottish National and it looks a fantastic race with a huge crowd, we’re very excited to be coming over and hopefully we can break one, if not two of those statistics.

“We’ll be stopping off in Perth and one or two other places during the week before Sandown.

“I think Saturday will be a pivotal day. I keep thinking back to 2016 when Paul won the National. If we can get out of Ayr still ahead, that is going to be huge for us.

“If Paul or Dan win the Champion Hurdle or the National, that’s going to make it squeaky bum time as such, but if we can get out ahead, that will be huge.”



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Mullins runs six in Scottish National as championship hunt intensifies

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Willie Mullins will saddle six runners in the the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday as he looks to extend his lead in the race to be crowned champion trainer in Britain.

The Grand National success of I Am Maximus at Aintree saw Mullins sweep past perennial champion Paul Nicholls and his former pupil Dan Skelton and he is now a hot favourite to become the first Irish-based trainer to claim the British title since Vincent O’Brien did so in successive seasons in the 1950s.

The Closutton handler is represented in each of the eight races on Saturday’s Ayr card and is responsible for six of the 26 declared for the £200,000 feature.

The trainer’s two leading contenders appear to be recent Fairyhouse scorer Macdermott and Mr Incredible, who turns out just seven days after unseating his rider at The Chair. Ontheropes, Spanish Harlem, Klarc Kent and We’llhavewan complete the sextet.

Mullins is unlikely to have things all his own way, however, with Nicholls represented by the high-class top-weight Stay Away Fay and Broken Halo, while Skelton will be hoping Ballygrifincottage can put him back on top of the table.

Brian Ellison’s Eider Chase winner Anglers Crag and the Jamie Snowden-trained Git Maker also feature.

Rubaud winning last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle
Rubaud winning last year’s Scottish Champion Hurdle (Jane Barlow/PA)

The title-chasing trio all fire major bullets at the £100,000 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle, with Mullins running Westport Cove, Bialystok and Alvaniy, Nicholls saddling last year’s winner Rubaud and his stablemate and Afadil with Skelton relying upon County Hurdle runner-up L’Eau du Sud.

Also among a total of 18 runners on the afternoon for Mullins are Uncle Phil in the opening Scotty Brand Handicap Chase, popular veteran Sharjah in the CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase and impressive Punchestown winner Billericay Dickie in the Tennent’s Novices’ Hurdle.



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