Plenty of top picks to warm up the winter
The first racing action of 2019 at Ayr Racecourse last Wednesday was watched by a healthy crowd who enjoyed some really competitive racing.
The grounds team had done a brilliant job in laying covers around the entire chase and hurdle courses to ensure racing went ahead despite a frost overnight into Tuesday of - 3c.
And no one was celebrating more than Lucinda Russell who saddled Mumgos Debut to win the Happy Birthday Teresa Dewan Handicap Chase at odds of 7- 1.
The 11- year- old, ridden by Derek Fox, fairly sprinted up the run in to get the better of John Williams.
I thought the Mike Smith trained Las Tunas was a really unlucky loser in this having travelled like a winner throughout and two lengths clear when falling two out.
Mike was due to run this well handicapped horse at Ayr on Tuesday and was hopeful of better luck.
Borders trainer Harriet Graham is waiting until she sees how much the handicapper puts Aye Right up in the ratings before deciding where her stable star runs next.
The six year- old was an impressive winner of the feature race , the Frazer Coogans Handicap Hurdle.
Jockey Callum Bewley had the 9- 4 favourite handy throughout and he went clear over the last before idling slightly but still won by a length and a half from Road To Gold.
Harriet said: “I have a few races in mind but I will go back and wait until I see what the handicapper does before firming up plans.”
It took trainer Tom Lacey six and a half hours to travel to the track
f rom his Herefordshire base but the journey back would have seemed a lot shorter after his lightly raced Johnbb won the Book For The Coral Scottish Grand National Maiden Hurdle by a neck from Glinger Flame.
Sent off the 8- 15 favourite the fiveyearold had to battle all the way to the line to hold off the challenge from the Nicky Richards trained grey gelding.
Afterwards Nicky told me he was delighted with Glinger Flame’s performance and he has high hopes for this horse who ran green but will be winning shortly.
Lacey was also a happy man when I spoke to him afterwards and full of praise for clerk of the course Graeme Anderson for getting the meeting on.
He was confident Sebastopol would give him a double on the day but he lost a show and could only finish third behind the Gordon Elliott trained Whoshotthesheriff.
Nicky Richards had his customary winner at the track when a powerpacked ride from Brian Hughes saw Glittering Love, 6- 5 favourite, prevail from Present Flight in the three mile handicap chase.
And Lucy Normile, who trains near Perth, landed a 20- 1 winner in the concluding national hunt flat race with Curramore, ridden by Grant Cockburn.
Strong Resemblance, evens favourite, was the easiest winner of the day to win the 3 mile hurdle.
I have a few races in mind but I will go back and wait until I see what the handicapper does before firming up plans
Harriet Graham