Ellison’s Miner ready to strike Gold with step up in trip at Ayr
Gold Miner will be gaining a deserved victory if he gets the job done in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Patient Transport Novices' Hurdle at Ayr today.
Mistakes at the last flight have hindered him in his only two attempts under rules to date, but he has still been beaten less than five lengths in all.
Brian Ellison moves the former winning Irish point-topointer up in trip significantly to an extended three miles and with champion jockey Brian Hughes on board for the first time, the lightlyraced eight-year-old could be hard to stop.
The same comment applies todamedecompagnie,whois one half of a two-runner affair for the Western House Hotel Gift Vouchers Novices' Chase.
Nicky Henderson has opted for this long trip north, from several other possible destinations over the past week, as his Cheltenham Festival-winning mare makes a belated return for her chasing debut.
She has reportedly taken well to her new job when schooling at home - and this will represent a good test of her credentials, with former Fighting Fifth Hurdle hero Cornerstone Lad in opposition on what is his second fencing start.
Rainbow Dreamer is primed to retain his title in the Betway Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Alan King's fine stayer appears to have had the ideal preparation to bag this fasttrack qualifier again.
The eight-year-old - so adept on an all-weather surface, be it Polytrack or Tapeta - was beaten just five lengths in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Newcastle last summer, before returning to that track three weeks later to run a fine fifth under a big weight in the Northumberland Plate.
After his busy and fruitful winter, then those two quick mid-summer runs, Rainbow Dreamer earned an extended break before reappearing at Newcastle last month with another admirable effort to be beaten under a length into third in a highly-competitive fast-track qualifier.
That was over this same trip, of an extended two miles, and there is every reason to anticipate further improvement.
His career record suggests he is always likely to be better for a recent run, and he achieved his first three-figure rating at this track 12 months ago - on his only visit here to date.
Tom Marquand renews the partnership, having previously won and finished second on Rainbow Dreamer - whose month break since his Newcastle return indicates this race has been a long-term plan in King's diary.
It is highly likely to come together.