Punters should support Ascot’s course of action

News that Ascot are thinking of moving the Qipco Champion Stakes to a newly-designed inner course should be welcomed by punters.

The concept of the meeting has always been debatable. The timing of it just as bizarre, with it surrounded by other major events. But the worst part has always been ground. There might be upwards of £ 4 million on offer but having the best horses run at the end of a long campaign on bog-like ground has been dreadful for betting purposes.

Silly results on the big days do nothing for the confidence of the gambler and getting the races onto a track that’s not bottomless should at least give us half a chance.

Let’s hope the Channel 4 exit from racing will be a harmonious one. The station’s last goodbye could be sooner than expected with the broadcaster no longer intending to bow out at Newbu r y on December 31.

The prospect of the first Saturday without racing on terrestrial telly for years is likely with the company aiming to end three decades of coverage at Kempton and Chepstow on December 27.

Discussions are ongoing but you have to hope it comes to a satisfactory conclusion.

Channel 4 is not everyone’s cup of tea but they have been great for racing. We would have missed a lot of memorable moments over the past 30 years without them.

Ayr stages Glasgow Fair Family Raceday tomorrow with an eight race card due to get under way at 1.55.

With racing on Friday there as well and Musselburgh on Tuesday, there’s enough to get stuck into.

Musselburgh has Tuesday’s highlight in the UK with the Download Your Racing UK App Handicap, but we’ll need dough and tomorrow at Ayr offers the chance once Keltus goes in a short-odds at Newton Abbot today to boost the punting pot.

The feature race at Ayr is the Racing UK Glasgow Fair Handicap over a mile at 5.10 and this Class 2 contest has attracted 14 runners including another Keystroke from Jeremy Noseda’s Newmarket yard and David O’Meara’s Fort Bastion.

In-form trainer Keith Dalgleish saddles nine including hat-trick seeking Toffee Apple who runs in the closing mile handicap.