Good afternoon folks
A tricky period coming up and as you know I call it ‘crossover of disciplines’ as the jumps are coming to the end/horses could be over the top after a long season and the flat starting proper at Newbury with lots of seasonal debutants which makes fitness and the form the horses return in very, very hard to gauge at this early stage so best not to go mad. A couple I do like at Ayr are below, along with a race from Newbury. Back throughout the day tomorrow with Saturday’s selections.
15:50 Ayr
DANCE THIEF – 1 Pt Each Way @ 11/1 Paddy Power, 10/1 generally
Shouldn’t be the outsider of the field IMO, posting the highest solid RPR’s and getting a lot of weight from the others. Has been undone by the ground I feel on his last 2 runs but bolted up over C & D three back when encountering the same conditions as is likely tomorrow. Loves the track and ground and I can see him going very well in this with 1st time cheekpieces hopefully doing the trick and not hindering?
16:25 Ayr
I LOVE MY BAIE – 1/2 Pt Each Way @ 12/1 generally
Smooth traveller, likes this track and was 2nd on the card last year. The jockey is 1,3 aboard and the Irish trainer has a near 32% win SR here which is an eye-catching 6 wins, 7 placers from 16 over hurdles when using Slevin. Fresh for this time of year does go exceptionally well after a break so I thought, although we are coming to the end of the season, worth chancing.
17:20 Newbury
ROUSING ENCORE– 1.25 Pt Win @ 7/1 generally
ZOULU CHIEF – 3/4 Pt Win @ 14/1 Hills, 10/1 generally
Very much caught my eye on his last 3 runs, this strong, smooth traveller looks set for a good season and one I feel we can follow. Hopefully he is ready but he should be with the knowledge that, being such a long way as it is for the yard to travel here, they have ONLY EVER had 2 runners here and both WON! On his form here for Fahey he looks well handicapped as he had none other than Group 1 superstar Charyn behind that day so if ready, which is the if at this stage of the season, has the form to go very close. As that is the case it is hard to go strong each way so I will chance another big pricer, race fit from Meydan as this horse is still only 4, has bolted up over C & D and could make all from a good stands rail draw at a track that favours such tactics on fast ground for his red hot stable.