Ayr’s Western meeting begins today on ground described as good to firm with little chance of rain over the three-day meeting.
Poet’s Magic is likely to make a bold bid from the front in the 7f handicap and his C&D record reads 211. He is 12lbs higher than when making all here back in July, however, and my two against the field are Outrun The Storm and Global Humor (2.25) with the latter getting the each way vote.
The selection has been running over the minimum trip of late, but he has never finished out of the first two in six starts here this season and he is only 2lbs higher than when scoring over C&D at the end of July. Amie Waugh takes off a valuable 5lbs and Jim Goldie’s 6-y-old has an excellent draw in stall one. He gets the each way vote at 6s with William Hill who are offering four places.
The two divisions of the mile handicap are tricky puzzles to solve but in the second division I hope to see End Zone (3.35) build on a staying on fourth over an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last time in his first time cheekpieces. The ew recommendation was claimer ridden last time when doing his best work late on, but Rowan Scott takes over for the first time today. The ew recommendation is 15/2 from 9s with MansionBet.
The valuable 10f Kilkerran Cup is the feature event and it is a terrific handicap with any number of inform horses in opposition. Fairmac and Howzer Black should ensure a decent gallop which will suit the likes of Platinumcard – failed to stay 12f last time – and Nicholas T but my two against the field are Tricorn and Highwaygrey (4.45) with the latter getting the each way vote at 16/1 with William Hill.
The selection is down to the same mark as when scoring at Doncaster on fast ground in the spring, will have the race run to suit given the guaranteed pace and he bounced back to form when a never nearer third at Newcastle last time. That was the selection’s fourth start in the Racing League in five weeks which is a concern but the 16/1 looks a shade too big with his optimum underfoot conditions.
In the fillies’ handicap at Yarmouth, I hope to see Mango Boy (4.25) break his maiden tag on handicap debut. The selection – 11/4 from 4s with William Hill – was denied a run at a crucial time when staying on into second at Thirsk last time over today’s 10f trip. The gelding is related to several winners, and he looked to appreciate the step up in trip last time – out of a 12f winner – having ran over a mile on his first couple of starts. He has the worst of the draw out in stall nine, but the hope is that Jack Mitchell can get across and get some cover.
William Haggas trained the winner of the maiden that Mango Boy finished runner up in at Thirsk and he saddles Titian who ran a race full of promise when second on his belated reappearance. He represents a big danger.
I am keen on the chance of Heath Rise (5.30) stepping up to 14f for the first time at Chelmsford. The selection – 11/4 with MansionBet – scored at Kempton last time over a mile-and-a-half and gives the impression he will served by today’s additional quarter of a mile. The selection is 7lbs better off with Suns Up Guns Up for the neck he was behind the Amanda Perrett gelding at Windsor last month and he is taken to reverse the form on the revised terms.
