Kalahari Queen should not be deserted at Ayr

TIPS: First effort over fences suggests Snowden’s charge has better to come

KALAHARI QUEEN is the choice in Ayr’s Tennent’s Lager Novices’ Chase.

Placed at Grade Two level over hurdles, she made a pleasing start over fences for Jamie Snowden when second at Worcester and was just found out for a bit of pace at the finish.

That run should have knocked off any rust and Kalahari Queen can kick on now.

Lucinda Russell’s MIGHTY THUNDER looks the answer in the Tennent’s Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old gelding has found one better in each of his two outings this term.

A two and a quarter length loss to Green Zone in September was enough to earn the favourite’s tag on his return at Kelso this month. However, Russell’s inmate went down by the same margin to Court Dreaming.

With Blair Campbell back in the saddle and the ground softening, Mighty Thunder can show he has learned from those two runs.

SUBCONTINENT can spearhead the jumps action at Warwick by taking the colossusbets.com Handicap Hurdle.

A winner for Venetia Williams in May, he seemed to be suited by the good ground at Perth, although he has also run well in testing conditions.

BARBADOS BLUE looked a fine recruit for Nicky Henderson when a 15-length bumper winner on her racecourse bow in May, and she can make a perfect start over jumps in the Better Value On Colossus Pools Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle.

SELECTIONS

AYR: 12.10 Buster Valentine, 12.45 Dark Ruler, 1.20 Mighty Thunder, 1.55 Beau Sancy, 2.25 Kalahari Queen, 3.00 Uriah Heep, 3.30 Vinnie Lewis.

WARWICK: 12.05 Captain Drake, 12.35 Barbados Blue, 1.10 Windspiel, 1.45 Subcontinent, 2.15 Youknowell, 2.50 What Larks, 3.20 Twist.

DOUBLE: Kalahari Queen and Subcontinent.

FORM FANCIES The Prof at Ayr Best bet: BEAU SANCY (1.55). Each-way double: NOT THE CHABLIS (12.45) and AIRDRIGH (3.00).