LEADING STABLES HEAD FOR AYR MEET
Leading yards aim runners at Saturday payday
Thistlecrack ( 2/ 1, Ladbrokes and Hills) can land the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday ( 2.40).
Definitly Red ( 8/ 1, Ladbrokes) is the each- way alternative.
Last week’s football four- fold consisting of Celtic, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd won at 2/ 1.
This week’s four- fold: Celtic, Hibs, Rangers and Man City ( 5/ 2, Marathon Bet). For Super Six add Man Utd and West Ham ( 10/ 1, Marathon Bet).
Ayr ( 3/ 4 with Marathon Bet) to beat Falkirk ( 17/ 4) Betvictor) on Saturday with the draw at 11/ 4 ( Betway).
Top prize- money is on offer at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday with Tennent’s Raceday carrying £ 125,000 across a quality seven race card.
And trainers have responded with entries from a host of leading stables including those of Paul Nicholls, Alan King, Donald McCain, Dan Skelton, Dr Richard Newland, Kerry Lee, Nicky Richards, Warren Greatrex and Peter Bowen.
The feature race is the Tennent’s Cup Scottish Champion Hurdle Trial Handicap Hurdle.
And the 18 entries include some highly rated hurdlers.
Caius Marcius from the Richards yard won a Listed Hurdle at Market Rasen in September and Saturday’s race has been the target for some time.
Richards was at Ayr on Monday and confirmed that if the going remains around good his talented seven yearold will run.
McCain holds an entry with Chti Balko who ran a creditable second when last seen in a Class 2 hurdle at Haydock but would probably want some cut in the ground while Embole is a four- year- old from the Skelton yard who impressed when running third in a handicap hurdle at Ayr on the opening day of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.
One of the main supporting races is the Johnnie Walker Handicap Chase, a Class 3 over 2m 5f and there are several course winners entered in this including Chris Grant’s Acdc, Chidswell from the Richards yard, David Pipe’s Vaniteux, McCain’s Lough Derg Jewel and Martin Todhunter’s Monbeg River.
This looks like being an absolute belter of a contest with Nicholls and Skelton also holding entries.
The Schweppes Handicap Hurdle, Class 3 over three miles, sees another highly rated McCain- trained runner in William Of Orange set to take on some good stayers including Stuart Crawford’s Elusive Theatre and Keith Dalgleish’s Alfie’s Choice.
The third Class 3, the Magners Handicap Chase over two miles and half a furlong, could see Skelton’s Peppay Le Pugh, a recent Worcester winner, take on Jennie Candlish’s Theflyingportiat, also on the mark recently at Wetherby.
Some quality racing, then, with the first due off at 12.30pm.
Gates open at 11am.