Take it as read Titian Boy has chance for Alexander at Ayr
● But course faces precautionary check
There will be a precautionary inspection at Ayr Racecourse today ahead of Christmas Party Raceday which is due to be the track’s last meeting of 2017.
The grounds team at Ayr laid two and a half miles of fleece covers on the course on Friday in a bid to see the meeting go ahead. There were freezing temperatures over the weekend – as low as -6⁰C – and the covers won’t be removed until the inspection at 9am to give the meeting every chance of going ahead.
There is a variety of racing planned, beginning with a novices’ hurdle race over two miles four furlongs at 12.40pm in which Lucinda Russell runs Saint Freule with Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox aboard.
The Nick Alexander stable is finding its feet and Titian Boy, a two time course winner, looks the one to beat in the Winter Weddings At Western House Handicap Chase over two and a half miles with the booking of Brian Hughes, who rode him to both these wins, a huge plus.
The feature race at 2.20pm is the Trevor and Annie Scott Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles two furlongs and Penrith-based trainer Nicky Richards runs Un Noble, the mount of Craig Nichol, while Mike Smith, who trains just 10 miles from Ayr, saddles Las Tunas with Conor O’farrell in the plate.
The final race of the afternoon is the Merry Christmas From Ayr Racecourse Intermediate Open National Hunt Flatraceandjamesewarthas two newcomers entered here – Bullion and Sao Maxence.
Elsewhere today, Alsvinder, who has seemingly thrived for the switch to the allweather surfaces, can make it three wins in four starts in the Betway Dash Handicap at Lingfield.
David O’meara’s charge has not finished out of the first two in five tries on the artificial tracks, proving equally as adept on the Tapeta at Wolverhamptonandnewcastleasthe Polytrack at Chelmsford.
It is the latter surface he tackles at Lingfield and he arrives in excellent heart having won a competitive event at Dunstall Park last month, looking good value for the official one-anda-half-length winning margin.
The handicapper clearly thought he looked to have a bit in hand as he has boosted him 5lb in the ratings, but the four-year-old remains pretty unexposed and can strike gold again at this better level.
Intrepidly cut no ice on the Newmarketturfinoctoberbut having been given a bit of time to get over that disappointment, he can bounce back in the Betway Casino Handicap.
This Medaglia D’oro gelding has seen only limited action for Jeremy Noseda so far, racking up two starts last year and just four outings so far this term.
He has managed two wins in his career, but for whatever reason put up no kind of show at Headquarters and Frankie Dettori eased him right down when it was clear he had no chance of getting into the mix.
Switching back to 10 furlongs here looks a good move and the all-weather will suit.