Todhunter hopes Molinari can get back to winning ways at Ayr

Martin Todhunter is looking forward to another season with Molinari, who starts off his 2024 campaign in the feature race at Ayr’s opening Flat meeting today.

The seven-year-old Cumbrian raider is among a competitive line-up for the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap over 1m 2f.

“He’s gone well first time out in the past without winning and this is a good place to get him going again,” said Todhunter. “Nice ground suits him and he obviously stays further as he’s won over a mile and a half – hopefully he’ll get back to winning ways this season as he hasn’t won for a couple of years.”

Molinari faces stern opposition from the likes of course and distance scorers Bashful, Roll It In Glitter and Mike Smith-trained Glasses Up, a seven-time winner at his local track.

The card begins with the Virgin Bet Restricted Maiden Stakes with Zabeel Road, an interesting newcomer trained by Charlie Johnston with Joe Fanning in the saddle.

Jim Goldie has been among the winners on turf and the allweather already this year and Classy Al can build on a good third at Musselburgh last Sunday in the Virgin Bet Handicap.

Meanwhile, Robert Cowell’s Dark Dreamer only won by a neck last time out but that did not quite tell the whole story and he can add to that success at Windsor.

The handicap per though the won a bit cosily too, as he has been raised 5lb, but he is up to defying that.

He was making his handicap debut having been gelded and was well supported, so a big run was expected and he looks a likely improver.

Dark Dreamer is back out in the Jules Gozo Holidays Leading Villa Specialists Handicap and can keep progressing.

Clive Cox’s Nemov ran a huge race on debut at Kempton back in January when second to Andrew Balding's Fire Demon, beaten half a length.

The winner has won twice since and is now rated 93, so a race like the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes should be a formality unless there is something special lurking.