A busy two days coming up at Ayr…

Warm and sunny, a glorious spring day to lift everyone’s spirits.  Time now for Ayr’s two day March meeting, always an important fixture for the yard and we have six runners declared for tomorrow where we hope the ground will be soft.

We start with My Kiwi Girl in the 15.00; she’s been running well in defeat recently and this looks like a good opportunity for her to get her head in front so long as she turns up in the same form – 8 run and Brian Hughes rides.

Ballyfort drops back in trip in the 15.35, he has had a minor wind operation since he last ran and he ought to be involved at the business end of the race, he does need to settle so we might try a change of tactics this time – 11 run and Bruce rides.

We have two runners in the 16.10, both of whom haven’t been showing their best of late but will hopefully run better this time; with hindsight Half Track (Brian Hughes) was short of work last time following a setback, he drops back in trip tomorrow and is wearing cheek pieces for the first time to sharpen him up over the shorter distance.  Maillot Blanc (Bruce) has had a minor wind operation since his last run, something we have always had in mind for him, he is also wearing first time cheek pieces as I think the trip is sharp enough for him these days – 10 run.

Travail d’Orfevre is our runner in the 16.40, for some reason we haven’t identified he failed to run his race last time having been admirably consistent for a long time prior to that.  Hopefully that was a one off in which case he ought to run a big race with track/ground/trip/grade all to suit – Bruce rides and 10 run.

Finally the admirable Gipsy Lee Rose runs in the 17.10, she has been in great form this season and has a great chance again if still in the same fettle, certainly is at home so fingers crossed – Bruce rides and 9 run.

Will be back to Ayr on Saturday where we have seven declared runners and I hope the forecast showers materialise as they’d all like the ground to remain on the soft side.

Anamanda takes a step up in class in the 14.50; this is a competitive looking mares hurdle and whilst she is 5lb “wrong” she has been running well this season and we are claiming 10lb off with Dom on board – 11 run.

Mack the Man is seeking a return to form in the 15.25, a winner over course and distance in the autumn he is 2lb lower tomorrow and I’d like to think we might see his spark again with conditions to suit and the visor back on, certainly seems well at home – Kit rides and 7 run.

We are doubly represented in the feature race of the meeting at 16.00 with Ned Tanner (Sean Quinlan) and Artic Row (Henry Brooke), both of whom appear at the top of their game and should give a good account – 5 run.  Never ideal having horses from the yard take each other on, especially when both have an obvious chance but I feel it is important to look through the prism of each horse individually as to what is best for them, and it gets worse in the next race!

We have three nice runners in the 16.35 with Jirko (Patrick Wadge), Boolamore Classic (Bruce) and Master Bricklayer (Henry Brooke).

Jirko takes a big step up in trip to 3m on handicap debut; original plan was 2m 4f at Newcastle on Monday but ground conditions have forced us here.  I don’t think the trip will be a problem so long as he settles early but he may not be quite street wise enough yet to show his best at this stage in his career.

Boolamore Classic won here over 2m 5f in January and subsequently ran well in defeat at Wetherby over 3m so the trip ought to be alright for him especially if the ground isn’t too holding.  If that’s the case he can run a big race again.

Master Bricklayer ran well to be 3rd here at Ayr last time and was 2nd at this fixture last season, both times over 2m 4f.  If he improves for the step up in trip then he also ought to be involved – 16 run.

It will be on to Carlisle on Sunday and then down to Cheltenham via some Stud visit(s), no rest for the wicked but Cheltenham very much a busman’s holiday this year with no runners. Particulalry intriguing racing and hopefully Hexham on the way home on Thursday.