Good morning all,
Back home after two glorious days in the sunshine at Yarmouth, it's been a really enjoyable experience and there's been a few I like the look of for the future – I'll start putting them together in a couple of Eyecatchers bulletins for early next week when there's not much in the way of racing taking place.
A quiet couple of days at home for me then, before it all begins again, and with the likes of Hexham and Warwick now restarting their seasons, you know the jumps is starting to get into full swing too.
For the next few days though, it's Ayr that takes centre stage. The big handicaps on Saturday is where I'll be focusing most of my attentions once declarations are out later on, but there's usually two or three races each day that's worthy of a second look, so that's where today's selections are coming from.
In Division 1 of the 7f Handicap at 2.35, I'm going to give another chance to Royal Duchess, who simply loves it at Ayr – 4 wins and 3 places from 12 runs here. The soft ground is ideal for her too (1122 her form figures on genuinely soft ground) and she will get the pace she needs here too, with Novinophobia, Dolphin Rock and Fire And Passion all front-runners. I'm happy to forgive her latest effort at Carlisle as she got very upset in the stalls and blew it at the start, and the handicapper is quickly dropping her back a few pounds after her win here three starts back. There may be better handicapped horses in the race but back on home turf, it would be no surprise to see her poke her head back in front again.
The Fillies Handicap at 4.15 is wide-open, 6-1 the field this morning, but there's not too many in here with soft ground form and despite a small reservation about the trip, I'm going to have a small e/w bet on My Lucille, from a yard going well at the moment, that of Tim Easterby. Twice a winner on soft ground at Hamilton this Summer, looking like a fast-improving horse in the process, she's not had those conditions again until today. But her form mainly comes at a mile (or slightly further), with her one effort at this trip an indifferent one that leaves you wondering whether she doesn't stay it, or whether the ground was to blame. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt until we know different, and give her another try.
Good luck with all your bets today,
David.
