Richards and Russell hoping to add to impressive records at Ayr
Nicky Richards and Lucinda Russell, the two most prolific jumps trainers in modern times at Ayr, are looking to add to their impressive scores on today’s seven-race card.
Richards has a total of 145 course victories to his name against Russell’s 143 and both have saddled the winner of the Scottish Grand National.
Kinross-based Russell has the busier afternoon as she has seven runners while Richards sends two raiders from his grey stokes table on the out skirts of Penrith in Cumbria.
Ray Green, whose colours have been carried to success twice in the Scottish Grand
National by Merigo, is, by far, the most successful jumps owner at Ayr with 68 winners and Russell send south is top weight Trap rain Law to contest the Coral Best Odds Guaranteednovices’ limited handicap Chase.
A course winner over hurdles last March, Traprain Law has the assistance of Patrick Wadge, who is currently leading the race to be champion conditional jockey this season.
Richards will be looking for a big run from Better Getalong, also under top-weight in the Coral Handicap Hurdle. The gel ding is set to be partnered by Jedburgh-born Callum Bewley, who was also on board when the pair struck from a 5lb lower mark over course and distance in December.
Sandy Thomson’s newlyinstalled conditional pilot Lewis Dobb rides Red Ned in the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling NH Flat Race.
Red Ned was caught right on the line when going under by a short-head on his Rules debut at Southwell in late November.
Meanwhile, Sennockian has really come good since being gelded and switched to artificial surface sand can complete a quick hat-trick in the Bet £10 Get £40 at be tm gm handicap at Wolverhampton.
Charlie Johnston's charge showed a good attitude when rallying gamely to edge out Love Yours at Newcastle at the start of this month.
The three-year-old then had just a neck to spare over Ippotheos at Lingfield but appeared to win a shade cosily there. A 3lb rise up the ratings is acceptable and it would be no surprise to see this €120,000 half-brother to former Fillies' Mile Group One winner Pretty Gorgeous have plenty more left in the tank.