Morning all,

You had to be back in jumps mode on Saturday. Although, there was a potentially informative Trial’s card at Leopardstown. More on that in Tuesday’s column.  It was NH game and the Scottish Grand National that took centre stage this side of the Irish Sea. There was also a valuable jumps card at Newbury on Saturday. However, the card suffered from decimated field sizes due to the quickening ground.

Inside today’s column I look back at the Ayr highlights. Plus, there’s a Monday tip at the end of the main piece.

Scottish Grand National Day Review

A month of ‘National’s’ got underway at Ayr on Saturday with the Scottish version a perfect appetiser for the big one at Aintree. Then there’s the little matter of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Given recent issues over field sizes in some of the big Saturday handicaps. It was refreshing to see 23 runners declared for Ayr’s big race, despite the drying ground. Despite the big field. This year’s Scottish Grand National turned into a one-horse race.

Williams Wings To National Success

Recent Eider Chase winner Win My Wings showed her recent improved form for the step up to 4m was no fluke. The mare was travelling ominously well in midfield and made good headway before taking it up four out. From then on, the race was effectively over as she forged clear of her rivals. She absolutely bolted up with her stablemate Kitty’s Light staying on to finish a seven-length runner-up with the Alan King trained Major Dundee a further 5-length back third. Another King runner Fidux finished a well beaten fourth.

Ok, it was the strongest ever renewal of the race but the winner revelled in the drying conditions and despite a likely healthy rise in the weights would have to be respected in next season’s Grand National.

Kitty’s Light ran another cracker in second but he was no match for his stablemate. A couple of early mistakes put the 6-year-old on the back foot. He needs to cut out the mistakes but he will be worth keeping in mind for the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown at the end of the month.  A race he was an unlucky third in last season.

Major Dundee ran well for a novice on just his fourth start over fences. He got the marathon trip but came up against a couple of better treated and more experienced rivals on the day.

The well backed Stormy Judge (13/2 co fav) was one of the big disappointments of the race. He never got into any sort rhythm and was pulled up. Subsequently found to be lame. He deserves another chance on easier ground, to show that he’s a well handicapped chaser.

More Ayr Highlights

Apart from Win My Wings. I thought the performance of the day came from Dusart in the 3m novices handicap chase. Fifth in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on his previous start. The lightly raced 7-year-old bounced back to winning ways with a battling display from Sounds Russian. 

The winner needs to organise himself at his fences and he didn’t jump the final two as fluently as the runner-up.  When the second went to the front after the last I thought he would go onto win. However, to the winner’s credit he rallied, found plenty for pressure to get up in the final strides to win a shade cosily at the line.

Dusart is still a big baby who still has a frame to fill. A half brother to the smart Simonsig if connections can keep him sound, he can make up into classy chaser next season given he clearly stays well

Sounds Russian a progressive novice handicap chaser himself did everything right compared to the winner. He proved his effectiveness for good ground here. And, given he’s won on heavy/soft ground he should do well in staying handicap chases next season.

The Grade 2 Future Champion Novices Chase didn’t look the strongest on paper but we did see a nice winner in Do Your Job.

A strong favourite at the off, he travelled well and you couldn’t fail but be impressed by his jumping. Trainer Michael Scudamore thinks the 8-year-old is the best horse he’s trained and certainly connections can look forward to next season with him. Hopefully the handicapper won’t be too harsh on him as I don’t think he beat well treated horses here.

Anna Goes One Better in Champion Hurdle  

Eight went to post for a competitive Scottish Champion Hurdle. The early pace was moderate and it became a bit of a sprint in the straight. That meant an exciting finish with three in with a chance at the last. West Cork had just got the better of the consistent Onemorefortheroad in the final 110yds and looked set for victory but he couldn’t hold off the final thrust of Anna Bunina.

For Anna Bunina, who had finished runner-up 12 month earlier, the drying ground was very much in the in her favour and the handicapper had given her chance.  She only had one behind here coming two three out and she didn’t get the clearest of runs at the last. If she hadn’t have got up, she would have been a very unlucky loser. Credit to jockey Sean Bowen’ A jockey I hold in the highest  he didn’t try to go for a run between West Cork and Onemorefortheroad and sensibly switched the mare to give her a clear run down the outside of that pair.

Last year’s winner Milkwood was bidding to join Sea Pigeon and Birds Nest and become the third horse to win the race for a second time. Sadly, he never got competitive and finished an 8-length fifth.

Monday Racing

It’s a mix of flat and jumps cards this afternoon. Redcar and Windsor provide the flat action and there’s a jumps fixture at Kelso.

There are a couple of interesting Class 3 handicaps at Redcar and Windsor this afternoon.

Redcar

3:15 – Broken Spear was a 2 ½ lengths 5^th of 22 to Johan in Lincoln 9-days ago. He’s entitled to go close if in the same form but today’s softer ground will put a premium on the 6-year-old’s stamina. Boardman was in excellent form early last season, winning three times in May. He’s down to his last winning mark but maybe better for the run, Bowland Park won twice last summer on an easy surface. A mile is his distance and the 4-year-old is just 3lb above his last winning mark and if he’s ready to roll he’s handicapped to be competitive.

David O’Meara saddles a couple of well handicapped horses in Hortzadar & Orbaan. The first named, a previous C&D winner was 6-length 13 of 22 in the Lincoln. He had finished third in the previous year’s race but he may have needed the run this time. Orbaan is effective in the mud and more than capable of winning a race like this if all the cards fall right. That said he’s only 1-19 since joining the O’Meara yard. His style of running means he needs a strong pace to chase which is forecast today. It's hard to split the pair but Hortzadar‘s low draw in three means he just shades it for me.

Selection: Hortzadar – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John