Resident Racing Ahead tipster Ben Morgan gives out his best tips for Saturday’s racing at Ayr
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Ayr 1.43 – Progressive Pic to peak after Cheltenham disappointment
PIC ROC’s performance at Cheltenham was too bad to be true and he never really had a chance to get into the race.
It paid to race up with the pace so his position at the rear meant he was always going to be disadvantaged.
His earlier performance at Newbury was full of promise and he was probably a shade unlucky not to win that day.
The re-opposing Lord Of Thunder will bid to hold that form but I don’t think he will be able to as his stiff test should bring out the best in Ben Pauling’s charge.
I don’t think he has been 100% yet this season with Cheltenham clearly on connections‘ mind.
With that disappointment now out of the way I am expecting the shackles to come off and if so, he looks very well weighted.
Ayr 2.15 – Nicholls to continue Spring revival
This isn’t the strongest edition of the Scottish Champion Hurdle and despite Willie Mullins sending 4 over for it I don’t think he has an overly strong hand.
Ethical Diamond has a lot of weight to concede whilst the others have plenty to prove after disappointments this Winter.
KABRAL DU MATHAN looks to have been laid out for this race by his shrewd trainer, Paul Nicholls, and I think that careful bit of planning could pay dividends.
A horse certainly on the up this Winter he remains very lightly raced but what form he does have in the book is strong.
His last two runs have yielded a second place effort but both were in top handicaps which suggest he is more than capable of winning one himself.
A small break before this assignment should have given connections time to get him right for this and Nicholls proved last week just how good he is at getting them right for a day.
Ayr 3.35 – Lawes to complete season long Quest
It appears that Toby Lawes and connections of SURREY QUEST have been mapping their way back to this race all season after last year’s close second.
He lines up here off a 6lb higher mark which won’t make his task any easier but there is every reason to believe he might have improved this season.
A solid jumper, usually, and a horse who will gallop and gallop probably wasn’t suited to the test the Edinburgh National presented and will be more at home here as he proved last year. I think he has a solid chance in a wide open renewal.
Another horse who I think could be worth following is FAMOUS BRIDGE who performed admirably at Cheltenham in conditions which didn’t suit him.
Myretown ran away with the race and the injection of pace down the hill just caught Nicky Richards’ dour stayer tapped for toe.
He should appreciate the marathon test here and I can see him plodding on up the straight and at least finishing in a place.
Ayr 1.43 – Pic Roc
Ayr 2.15 – Kabral Du Mathan
Ayr 3.35 – Surrey Quest / Famous Bridge
