Ayr’s New Year fixture with eight runners for the team

Marginally milder this morning and due to turn colder again tonight. No problems anticpated for Ayr’s New Year fixture tomorrow and we have 8 runners declared on ground currently described as soft, it is likely to have dried back a bit from that as they have had the frost covers on since Monday which is likely to result in sticky holding sort of ground.  Not many horses like that but it will be the same for them all and hopefully ours won’t be unduly inconvenienced by it.

We start with two runners in the maiden hurdle at 13.00, L’Arme du Bonheur (Jamie Hamilton) and Whathaveyou (Bruce).  L’Arme improved nicely on his second start over hurdles and I would hope to see another step in the right direction tomorrow.

Whathaveyou ran a nice race last time on hurdling debut considering he had been off for a long time so I’d expect to see a significant improvement from him – 13 run.

Ballyfort is our representative in the 2 mile novice chase at 13.30; he won here over hurdles off 3lb lower last March and has since won over fences at Kelso, he should have a decent chance if he handles the ground and finds a rhythm over the fences – Bruce rides and 5 run.

We are double handed in a busy 2m 4f handicap hurdle at 14.00 with Burning it Up (Patrick Wadge) and Boolamore Classic (Bruce).  I’ve no idea why Burning it Up hasn’t been running to form so far this season, his Perth run from April would give him every chance and he seems in very good form at home so maybe he can turn the corner.

Boolamore Classic ran very well here last time prior to appearing to not get home over 3 miles on heavy; this race has been the plan since but I would have preferred it to be wetter, softer ground – 19 run.

Travail d’Orfevre runs in the 3m handicap chase at 14.30.  He won this race last year but hasn’t shown much form since and there were only 4 runners that day whereas rather annoyingly there are 14 tomorrow!  I’d just like him to show more zest and travel through the race like he always used to, he seems in great order at home and we are popping some cheek pieces on just to aid his focus a little.  Every chance off his current handicap mark if he can revert to his best – Bruce rides.

Finally we are double handed again in the staying handicap hurdle at 15.30, the feature race on the card.  Gaillimh a Stor (Bruce) was a close second in this race last year and is 2lb lower this time round so he could run very well especially of the minor wind operation he has had proves of benefit.  Prefer wetter ground as I would for our other runner Coconut Splash (Kit).He made a nice debut for the stable here at Ayr in November but was disappointing at Kelso next time, perhaps that was the bounce factor but he should appreciate the step back up to three miles tomorrow and looks very well treated based on his form as a younger horse – 11 run.