Whillans cashes in on Hartforth

● Unlikely glory for Hawick trainer’s 50-1 shot at Ayr

Hawick trainer Donald Whillans saddled a 50-1 winner at Ayr’s last meeting of 2016 yesterday and later admitted he had a “little bit on”.

Hartforth won the threemile handicap hurdle, beating odds-on favourite West Of The Edge by a length.

Whillans said afterwards: “I had to have a bet as he was such a big price. On his best form he had a chance at the weights, although we didn’t really expect to beat the favourite, but we had a little bit on.

“We gave him a full MOT at the end of last season and couldn’t find much wrong with him except for some throat ulcers.”

Also celebrating was Lucinda Russell, who saddled Big River, sent off the 5/6 favourite, to land the feature race, the two-mile-five-and-a-half-furlong handicap hurdle.

Always travelling well, Tom Scudamore brought his mount home to win easily by 11 lengths.

Russell said: “He had a fibrillating heart last year and we thought we might lose him. He is a nice prospect and might go up to three miles in time, with the Pertemps at Cheltenham a possible target.”

Barraboy got up inside the last furlong to touch off longtime leader Anitopia in the two-mile handicap chase for trainer Barry Murtagh and jockey Craig Nichol. He was another big-priced winner at 20-1.

Lucy Alexander, who suffered a broken collarbone in a meeting at the track last month, made her comeback but both her mounts finished well down the field

At Southwell today, Captain Revelation is expected to enhance his fine record at the track in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap. In six previous visits to the Newark circuit, Tom Dascombe’s four-year-old has never finished out of the first two, hitting the bullseye on three occasions. He completed his course hat-trick in good style a fortnight ago and while he will need to defy a careerhigh mark to add to his tally, he looks in the mood to do so.

All-weather fare also comes from Kempton, where Outrage is the standout bet in the 32Red Handicap.

Daniel Kubler’s inmate was produced with a well-timed run when winning a shade cosily at Newcastle on Friday and it is no surprise to see him turned out quickly under a penalty. The first-time blinkers seemed do bring out a little improvement in the four-yearold and provided they have the same effect, he has every chance of following up, especially if they go hard in front.

La Fortuna has been found a good opportunity to open her account at the third attempt in the Betway Median Auction Maiden Stakes.