Better Getalong for Jumps start
Richards can strike at Ayr opener
It’s bye to PJ, Eavesie and the two Pauls ( Mulrennan and Hanagan) and hello to Hughesie, Craig Nichol and Will Kennedy as Flat racing gives way to the new jumps season at Ayr on Monday.
The William Hill Raceday is the first of a massive 17 fixtures culminating in the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival next April and I am looking forward to a winter punctuated by some top National Hunt racing.
Monday’s fare looks competitive enough with the maiden hurdle that opens the card at 1.30pm attracting horses from leading stables including those of Olly Murphy, Fergal O’Brien and Harry Whittington.
But the horse that jumps out at me in this race is the Nicky Richards trained Better Getalong which runs in the Monet’s Garden colours and won a bumper at Ayr last December and another at Kelso in February.
This six- year- old ran in midfield in the Cheltenham bumper and will be primed for a big run at his first attempt over hurdles.
He holds an entry at Kelso on Saturday but I think Nicky will plump for the race here.
The two and a half mile Novices Limited Handicap chase could see Lochnell, a four time hurdles winner at the track, run in only his second chase while the veteran Buffalo Ballet placed twice in similar company runs for Nick Alexander with daughter Lucy riding.
The aforementioned Olly Murphy, who only started training in his own right in July, hit the ground running with winners on both codes.
He holds eight entries on Monday and I think he will make the 700 mile round trip pay with at least one winner and that could come in the three mile hurdle for conditional jockeys where he has three entered.
The feature race is the two mile handicap chase at 3.50pm and Nick Alexander’s Craiganboy who won at the course over two miles further in February can go in again.
If you fancy some exciting jump racing head along. Gates open at 11.30am.
Hot on the heels of Monday’s meeting is Tennent’s Raceday on Saturday, November 4 and this traditionally is a cracker of a card. Prize- money has been boosted this year to £ 100,000.
The feature contest is the £ 30,000 Tennent’s Cup Scottish Champion Hurdle trial and I expect quite a few big southern stables to head north in search of riches.
There are also three £ 18,000 races so all in all some top racing in store and I think we’ll be rewarded with big fields and a touch of quality too.
When I started working at Ayr Racecourse our Clerk of the Course was Anthea Morshead who remains one of the most knowledgeable racing people I have ever met.
At that time Anthea’s son Henry was about four years old and he used to toddle about after his mum.
Well Henry is now an up and coming jockey and recently started out as the conditional rider with the all- conquering Paul Nicholls yard. He had his first ride for his new boss on Orbasa at Wincanton last Friday and duly won.
I’m sure this will be the first of many successes Henry enjoys in his new role and as the season progresses I expect him to be riding for a few different trainers who are keen to employ the services of a useful claimer.
It would be good to see Henry at Ayr again this season.
He rode twice at the track earlier in the year under the watchful eye of his mum.