Racing
Ayr Place 6 preview | 14th February
13.45 – Valentine’s Day Conditional Jockeys’ Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m4f
ANIMORE returned to form with a neck second on her penultimate start and, with a five-pound claimer booked to ride, allied to being below her last winning mark in the handicap ratings, Iain Jardine’s mare could resume winning ways. POPPY ROSE ran her best race to date when third at Sedgefield last time she too should be thereabouts.
Leg 1 Selections: ANIMORE, POPPY ROSE
14.15 – Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap Chase – 2m4f
BROADWAY JOE won his first three starts over fences and has mostly been consistent in defeat since. If a wind operation coupled with cheek-pieces sharpens him up, he could enter the reckoning in this. OPERATION OVERLORD is a fragile sort but does have talent and this course-and-distance winner could make it third time lucky over fences despite his big weight.
Leg 2 Selections: BROADWAY JOE, OPERATION OVERLORD
14.45 – Virgin Bet Raceday Saturday 11 March Maiden Hurdle – 2m4f
LANGDALE LANE only displayed moderate form in bumpers but he has offered a lot more over hurdles in three starts and while he remains vulnerable to a potential improver, he still rates a big player for the Irish here. Nicky Richards FLY BY MILAN previously made the frame in all four bumper starts, so while he has to overcome an absence, he could pose a serious threat on his hurdles debut.
Selections: LANGDALE LANE, FLY BY MILAN
15.20 – Mother’s Day At Western House Hotel Handicap Chase – 2m
DOUGLAS TALKING, a course-and-distance winner, won three of his first four starts over fences and even though his two recent efforts have been underwhelming, a return to positive tactics following wind surgery could be what’s needed to see him back to form. WHEELBAHRI has won six of his last eight starts, including the last twice, and could be tough to stop in his hat-trick bid.
Selections: DOUGLAS TALKING, WHEELBAHRI
15.55 – Spring Getaway At Western House Hotel Handicap Hurdle – 3m
JET LAGS showcased some promise in each of his previous hurdle starts before running his best race to date when runner-up at Wetherby last time. He has been raised in the handicap marks for that effort but he seemingly relished the test of stamina and a repeat here could well see him go one better. He is a solid choice to make the frame.
Selections: JET LAGS
16.30 – Book The Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase – 3m
GENTLEMAN DE MAI won on his hurdles debut here and despite not being able to add to that in three subsequent starts, he will go chasing here off a realistically fair mark. He can’t be ruled out, while MISTER BELLS will find this easier than when fifth at Haydock last time and is weighted to have a say in the outcome as well.
Selections: GENTLEMAN DE MAI, MISTER BELLS
