In-form Russell yard hoping to hit the target with Ayr raid

Fresh from a notable win for stable star Ahoy Senor at Newbury on Saturday, Lucinda Russell sends six horses to Ayr today and will be disappointed if she doesn’t come back with a winner or two.

In the feature race, the Join Racing TV Now Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over the three mile trip at 2.45pm, Russell saddles the JP Mcmanusownedgrandmorningathreetime hurdles winner at the track. With Derek Fox riding connections will be hoping he goes one better than his second place in a Hexham contest last month.

Another horse running in the famous green and gold Mcmanus silks for Russell is Operation Overlord in the two milefourfurlonghandicaphurdle at 2.10pm and he shouldn’t be far away from securing his first victory on his fourth hurdle start.

Rose Dobbin is another trainer whose horses are in great form and Eagle de Guye, the mount of Craig Nichol, returns froma10-monthabsenceinthe Visit racingtv.com Handicap Chase at 1.05pm and if fully fit could be the one to beat.

The afternoon’s action ends with a national hunt flat race over two miles and Warren

Greatrex sends Bold Soldier on the marathon trip from Upper Lambourn for his rules debut with Caolin Quinn riding.

Meanwhile, at Kempton, Uzincsocanmakeatriumphant return to his happy hunting ground and register a seventh successoveramileintheunibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap.

Johnbutler’sfive-year-oldwas a standing dish at the Sunbury venue from September 2020 to March of this year, when he won six times from eight starts. He has had three races on turf since then without bothering the judge, but he is officially 11lb better on an artificial surface and can show why with another winning performance.

Roger Charlton’s gamble of moving Rumi up in trip can pay off in the Unibet Casino Deposit £10 Get £40 Bonus Handicap.

The three-year-old gelding steps up from a mile and a half to two miles for the first time, which looks the right thing to do. He was doing his best work at the business end when he opened his account in a dead-heat over a mile and three furlongs two starts back, while forcing tactics just found him out when he finished second to Rafiot last time. A more conservative ride can see him regain the winning thread.

Night On Earth struck on his secondraceforthemickappleby team and can oblige again in the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton. The three-yearold scored by half a length from Phoenix Star at Newcastle and a 3lb rise might not be enough to stop him from following up.