LEADING Newmarket trainer Willie Haggas has an excellent record at Ayr having last year’s Ayr Gold Cup and he sends one runner north today (Monday) for the track’s latest meeting.
Kolisi, a lightly raced three year-old, contests the feature race Big Al’s 50th Birthday Handicap at 3.00pm. Two runs ago the gelding won a maiden at Salisbury and although running down the field at Goodwood last time out he is the one to beat here.
Former two time champion jockey Paul Hanagan takes the mount on Kolisi who could be given most to do by the Mark Johnston trained Dream With Me who won at the track in April and May and has Ben Curtis in the plate.
Some well-bred two year-olds line up in the QTS British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes including Kevin Ryan’s Merlin’s Lady who cost connections 320,000 guineas as a yearling.
Ribaldry, trained by David O’Meara and the mount of Danny Tudhope, looks the most capable of the horses with experience in this race having been runner up in similar events at Thirsk and Haydock.
The biggest field of the afternoon is in the QTS Training Handicap at 4.05pm where 14 runners go to post and a horse who could run well in this is Earn Your Stripes from the Mike Smith yard who should appreciate the easier going and is still very lightly raced.
