Six Ayr runners tomorrow, Gipsy wins again at Carlisle and another good day at Friars Haugh

Cold tonight, heavy sleet showers, February weather!  Ayr in our sights tomorrow where we have six declared runners on ground that is soft but is likely to be tacky after a few nights of frost.

First up is Ballyfort in the 1.10, he ran a lovely race to be 2nd last time at the track shaping as if the step up in distance will suit so hopefully he can run well again – Bruce rides and 10 run.

We run Master Bricklayer in the 1.40, he’s been a hard horse to get right but seems in good form now and a repeat of his course and distance 2nd last March would certainly see him involved – Bruce rides and 10 run.

Artic Row carries top weight in the 2.10, a race he won last year off 15lb lower.  He progressed from there and ran very well off this rating last time at Newcastle in November despite sustaining a nasty cut, we gave him plenty of time to get over that and he seems fit and well now, my concern would be the ground if it does ride soft and holding – Conor rides and 8 run.

Scarlet Jet is our runner in the maiden hurdle at 2.40; he showed good form last time to be 4th at Carlisle back in November and should have improved again for that – Bruce rides and 14 run.

Half Track runs in the staying handicap hurdle at 3.45; he seems in good order and ought to be well handicapped, we rode him too conservatively last time in better company at 3 miles on heavy at Haydock so are hoping for much better tomorrow in a race which whilst it is competitive does tick every box for him – Brian rides and 14 run.

Finally we run Scalloway Bay in the 4.20, a busy looking 3m chase; he ran very well here in the autumn over shorter and then wasn’t quite right after his run at Hexham so we have given him time to come back to himself and he seems in good form again now – Bruce rides and 14 run.

We were thrilled with Gipsy Lee Rose making all to win again at Carlisle last Monday, she’s enjoying an Indian summer to her career – having been 2 wins from 30 starts just over a year ago she has now won another 4 times from her last 8 despite being 11yo.  A bit bizarre really, perhaps we have finally worked out how to train her!  She’s building up a deserved following as everyone loves a front running grey mare who appears to jump for joy.   Elsewhere on the card we were really pleased with Eagle’s Cairn progressing to finish 3rd but disappointed with Travail d’Orfevre and Cream of the West who both seemed to get stuck in the holding ground.

And yesterday at the Berwickshire point-to-point Jesika won again on Will Ramsay’s Diable de Sivola and Jess had another great spin on Not the Chablis to finish 3rd on ground that was a bit on the soft side for him.