Action returning to Ayr after flu scare
Track loses one meeting amid nationwide fears
The most valuable contest on the day is a Class 3 novice chase over three miles which should see some decent chasers from leading yards taking part.
There is also a three mile handicap hurdle which will be competitive and the day ends with a national hunt flat race.
The first Saturday fixture of the year at Ayr takes place on March 9 and features the Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle for the Craigie Cup which was won in 2018 by Captain Redbeard who later went on to run in the Grand National at Aintree.
• Irish trainer Gordon Elliott had a mixed day at Ayr last week saddling three winners, seeing another horse fall when it looked all over a winner and landing a £ 3,000 fine for being adjudged to have schooled a horse in public.
The Elliott bandwagon started rolling in the second race when Galvin, sent off the 30- 100 favourite, kept his unbeaten record when winning the novices’ hurdle for owner Ronnie Bartlett and jockey Davy Russell.
This was the fifth successive win for the five year- old who holds entries in three novice hurdle races at the Cheltenham Festival but he had to work hard to cross the line a length and a quarter in front of Elvis Mail.
It was after this race that the stewards pulled in Elliott’s representative after Braid Hill appeared to have been given a tender ride from jockey Henry Brooke who was also asked to explain his actions.
Brooke said he had been told to sit seventh or eighth on the bridle and get the gelding jumping.
But the stewards ruled that he had failed to ride his mount to get the best possible place. In addition to Elliott’s £ 3,000 fine, Brooke copped a 14 day ban and the horse was suspended from running in any race for 40 days.
The second Elliott winner was Veinard in the feature race, the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Chase.
The 2- 1 chance, ridden by Conor O’Farrell in the absence of Davy Russell who had been stood down after Pat’s Oscar fell in the mares’ handicap hurdle, stayed on to win by four lengths from 5- 4 favourite Zalvados.
The final contest of the day, the national hunt Flat race, gave Elliott his treble when Arion Sky, the 7- 4 favourite, drew six lengths clear of Pink Sheets.
Russell was passed fit to ride in this and duly bagged his second success of the day.
The aforementioned Pat’s Oscar look poised to win the mares’ hurdle when falling at the last leaving Iain Jardine’s Camile to win after initially being hampered by the falling horse. Conor O’Farrell finished the race with his feet out of the irons of the 10- 1 winner.
Fife trainer Nick Alexander is in great form at the moment and McGinty’s Dream powered clear after the last under Grant Cockburn to win the three mile handicap chase at odds of 6- 1.