February freeze claims Ayr meeting
● No chance of improvement overnight ● Coeur De Lion can roar at Southwell
Thenational Hunt meeting scheduled for Ayr today was abandoned yesterday afternoon, with areas of the track unraceable and no prospect of improvement given weather forecasts.
Officials made the decision after an inspection, with the ground described as heavy and yellow weather warnings in place for rain overnight and snow on raceday morning.
Clerk of the course Graeme Anderson tweeted: “RACING ABANDONED @ayrracecourse areas of the track NOT raceable at present with no chance of improvement .Yellow Warning of snow and rain tonight & tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, at Southwell, high-class hurdler Coeur De Lion can make a successful return to the Flat in the Betway Handicap.
Alan King’s charge has a rating pushing 140 over jumps, but it should not be forgotten he is a more than useful operator on the level as well, winning once and placing four times from just seven starts on turf.
He has struggled to make an impact over hurdles so far this season, finishing down the field in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton and a competitive handicap at Newbury, so it is perhaps no surprise King has decided to switch codes in a bid to help Coeur De Lion regain some confidence.
The five-year-old has run just once on the all-weather and was well beaten at Wolverhampton, but that was a couple of years ago and he is clearly a better horse now.
0 Coeur De Lion, who goes at Southwell today, in action. With a total prize fund of £15,000 up for grabs this twomile contest has attracted a decent field, but Coeur De Lion looks sure to go well.
Angel Palanas can complete a course hat-trick in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap.
Following several fine efforts in defeat, the Karl Burke-trained four-year-old was not winning out of turn when bolting here shortly after the turn of the year and a 10lb hike was not enough to stop him following up on his return three weeks later.
He has been raised another 4lb to a perch of 73, but he clearly likes the track and judged on the manner of his latest verdict of a fortnight ago there could still be some mileage in his mark.
It is not inconceivable that a step up to seven furlongs for the first time could also help him take his game to new heights, too.
Picture Painter will strip fitter for his return to the Flat last month and can play a part in the Betway Apprentice Handicap, while Volatile did plenty right in seeing off a hotpot on his latest start and should be thereabouts in the Betway Novice Stakes.