The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Expect Mina Velour to be sharp for Ayr raid
RACING: Camacho charge showed enough in defeat at Haydock last month
MINA VELOUR can put her best foot forward in the Jordan Electrics Handicap at Ayr.
The four-year-old was previously trained by Bryan Smart, winning two of her five starts last year before switching to the care of Julie Camacho ahead of her first run in 2020.
Mina Velour made her reappearance at Haydock in the middle of July, lining up in a tricky-looking six-furlong heat on ground with a bit of cut, eventually finishing third, beaten a length and three-quarters.
The distance probably does not tell the whole story as she stumbled leaving the stalls and was a bit slow into stride before just falling away a bit in the closing stages, on what was her first run since last August.
The winner, Treacherous, has since augmented the form by lifting the Stewards’ Sprint at Goodwood and taking into account the fact Mina Velour should have sharpened up for that, she could be tough to beat.
GRANDMA can secure a first victory in the QTS Sponsor The Ayr Gold Cup Handicap.
The three-year-old has yet to strike in five outings, but she has shown some ability during those runs, not least when second at this track last time out.
Beaten three-quarters of a length, she was another runner who paid the price of a tardy start, keeping on well at the end after conceding ground.
The handicapper has left her untouched on a mark of 52 and she looks well capable of scoring off such a perch.
TOMBOLO is another who can shed his maiden tag in the Microtech Odds On For It Support Handicap.
He was sent off favourite on his seasonal return in maiden company in June after finishing second on his only juvenile outing, but he never looked like making an impact at Redcar.
While he shaped better at Ripon last time when fourth in another maiden, it looks like Tombolo could feel the benefit of moving to the handicap sphere.
NASH NASHA fell short of expectations on her racecourse bow, but should be given another chance in the Betway EBF British Stallion Studs Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Lingfield.
A million euro buy as a foal, Nash Nasha has a pedigree to die for as a daughter of Dubawi out of Classic winner Just The Judge, and punters certainly latched on her to her at Newmarket last month.
Nash Nasha was ultimately well beaten in third behind two fellow Charlie Appleby inmates, but ran very green and should take a step forward for the experience.