Six of the best from Lochnell
● Duncan charge right on course for another Ayr win
Course specialist Lochnell recorded her sixth Ayr win yesterday at the track’s New Year meeting, landing the three mile handicap chase.
Given a fine waiting ride from Henry Brooke, the nineyear-old mare, sent off the 11-2 joint favourite, followed up her course-and-distance win at Ayr on 22 December in fine fashion, jumping into the lead at the last to win by a length and three quarters from stablemate Finaghy Ayr.
Ian Duncan, the winning trainer who trains just six miles from the track at Coylton, said: “Lochnell couldn’t be doing her winning at a better place as her owners are the course chairman, Alan Macdonald, and his son, Barry.
“She loves it here and has a relaxed style of racing, so could be running again soon.”
Brooke made it two on the day when partnering Sky Full Of Stars, 11-2, for Dumfriesshire trainer James Ewart to win the Winter Weddings At Western House Handicap Chase over two miles, with Roxyfet two and a half lengths back in second.
Another jockey in doublewinning form was Ryan Day, who won on Better Getalong, the 2-11 favourite, in the two mile novices’ hurdle and Idee De Grade, 2-1 favourite in the concluding National Hunt Flat race. Both horses are trained by Nicky Richards.
The feature race, the Racing UK Jump To It Handicap Hurdle, over two miles five furlongs, saw Elusive Theatre, 11-4 favourite, and One For Harry, 9-2, pull clear with the former winning for jockey JJ Slevin and trainer Stuart Crawford.
Meanwhile, Galashiels trainer Katie Scott can strike gold with Chain Of Beacons Bet Daily Tips At racinguk.com Kilmany Cup Handicap Chase at Musselburgh.
Formerly trained by Sandy Thomson, Chain Of Beacons has made a fine start for his new team, finishing third on his first outing for the yard before winning last time.
His length win in a similar event to this at Kelso in November saw him ascend the ratings a little and he lines up off a 7lb higher mark here. However, Chain Of Beacons got a clever ride from Callum Bewley that day and could turn out to be good value for the official margin.
King Kevin built up plenty of momentum before the turn of the year and he can ensure 2018 gets off to a good start by winning the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton. The fouryear-old took some time to get rolling in 2017, finishing well out of the frame in six starts before a fair third at Chelmsford in October seemed to turn the tide.
With a couple of confidenceboosting placed efforts under his belt, King Kevin finally entered the winners’ enclosure in a moderate Chelmsford event in November and has struck twice more in three starts since then.
His two-and-a-half-length verdict at Dunstall Park on Boxing Day looked useful and he is clearly an upward curve now, as evidenced by his 12lb rise in the ratings.