Eight runners at Ayr’s opening fixture and two at Carlisle’s Sunday Premier fixture.

Milder today, showery, and Ayr have certainly had some rain as the ground for their opening jumps fixture is soft with good to soft places – much wetter than usual for this fixture.  This will suit some of our runners better than others but being fresh ground it shouldn’t be too testing and we have 8 declared.

First up is stable and hurdling debut L’Arme du Bonheur in the 12.48; he ran a lovely race in his only start in a bumper prior to coming to Kinneston and has been a delight to train, I’d like to think he will run a nice race tomorrow, there are plenty of decent prospects in the race and being first time over hurdles the main priority will be a good round of jumping and that he enjoys the experience – 14 run and Bruce rides.

The 13.23 ticks every box for Everyday Champagne though we do think he prefers better ground, he will take his chance and at this level might just prove he is more versatile than we give him credit for – 12 run and Bruce rides.

I can’t really believe we are running two of our best horses against each other in the 13.58 but it feels the right thing to do for both horses meaing the brothers Elvis Mail and Ginger Mail will go head to head.  Elvis was a late non runner at Kelso last week which was frustrating and with no options over fences for the next few weeks we thought it worth a spin over hurdles.  He is 10lb lower in this sphere and Dom is going to take another 10lb off meaning he carries 20lb less than he would have last week; he is very much a chaser these days and at the age of 11yo it feels unlikely that he could win over hurdles against much younger opposition but you never know.  One thing is for sure – if it isn’t happening Dom will look after him.

This race has always been the plan for Ginger Mail as I am intrigued to find out whether he stays 3 miles, if he does then he will have a good chance as he seems in very good order and loves Ayr – 7 run and Bruce rides.

Track, ground and trip should all suit Travail d’Orfevre well in the 14.29 and whilst there is plenty of competition he shouldn’t be far away if he is fit enough.  He is a bit stuffy at home so hard to tell but he has won first time out before; big question is whether he has his mojo back as he ran two poor races late last season having been bottomed out when 3rd in the Borders National. I just want to see his old spark back – 12 run and Bruce rides.

Ozzy Cosmo returns to the course and distance of his only career win in the 15.04 as we attempt to get his career back on track after a few falls and disappointments.  He is certainly well handicapped on the basis of his win but I suspect there will be some sharper two mile handicappers in this race, again I’d just like to see him run well – 12 run and Bruce rides.

In the 15.40 My Kiwi Girl makes her chasing debut; she won well here on her last start over hurdles, looks fairly treated handicap-wise and schools well.  She has had a lot to deal with this summer and the priority tomorrow will be a clear round, she is a lovely chaser in the making but may need further.

Last but not least Half Track reverts to hurdles in the 16.15, he also drops in class and looks nicely treated back over the smaller obstacles.  This will be further aided by Dom’s 10lb claim so he ought to have a good chance, especially if the ground doesn’t ease any further – 9 run.

On to Carlisle on Sunday for an excellent card of highly competitive quality racing and we have two runners declared on ground that I expect to be good to soft.  First up is Suspected in the 13.02; a Uttoxeter bumper winner on his only start and now making his stable and hurdling debut.  He has plenty of ability and has been very straightforward to train after a couple of initial hiccups.  We are possibly being a little ambitious in starting off in a decent Class 3 Novice and I suspect (sic) that he will be a little short of race experience relative to the competition, he seems well and schools well and deserves his place in the line up – 12 run and Bruce rides.

Our star novice chaser from last season Hombre de Guerra takes on some of last season’s best novices in Colin Parker Intermediate Chase at 14.37; he’s wrong at the weights but it worked well starting him off in a conditions race last season and he ought to run a nice race – 5 run and Sean rides.

Down at Wetherby today Shooting clearly wasn’t sharp enough, in trying to freshen him up I fear I left him short of work but he learnt plenty as did we so hopefully he can progress from here.  Erin had a great spin on Beat the Retreat in the Charity Race, as expected he needs further than a mile!