Morning inspection for Ayr’s New Year meeting

Ayr’s traditional New Year raceday takes place today subject to a precautionary inspection at 8:30am.

With the going heavy yesterday, and more rain forecast, clerk of the course Graeme Anderson elected to inspect as a precaution.

The opening race at 12:30pm is the Racing UK Maiden Hurdle over two miles four furlongs and the eight-strong field includes three Irish raiders from the stables of Neil Mcknight, Patrick Griffin and Stuart Crawford.

In the biggest field of the day, 11 go to post for the Book For The Ayrshire Wedding Shoe Handicap Hurdle at 1pm and top weight here is the unbeaten five-year-old Nice and easy from the Keith Dalgleish yard, ridden by Craig Nichol.

Running in the Straightline Bloodstock colours, the highly promising gelding has already won a National Hunt flat race, a maiden hurdle and a novice hurdle.

Leading jockey tom scudamore makes the long trip north from his south of England base for just one mount on Lucinda Russell’s Le Frank in the novices’ hurdle over two miles at 1:35pm, when he takes on course winner Better Getalong.

The feature race is the Racing UK Jump To It Handicap Hurdle at 2:40pm over two miles five furlongs and Plus Jamais, trained by Iain Jardine and ridden by Ross Chapman, is one to note here having won three times at the track over the years.

At Newcastle, Gracious John is fancied to add to his tally in the Betway Conditions Stakes.