Ayr – Tuesday 21st December

There are just two days of racing until the pre Christmas break and at this stage, we are looking for viable options to boost the coffers for the jam-packed week of action after the 25th. During the next few days, you’ll be seeing a few ante-post selections joining these pieces, so keep your eyes peeled for some thoughts on some of the big races in Leopardstown. However, concentration for today is at Ayr, which hosts a good card for its kind given its proximity to Christmas. 

Starting with the 12.30 race, which is the opening race on the card and is a maiden hurdle over 2 miles. There are plenty of nice types in this field, and none more so than the Stuart Crawford trained raider, Ballycoose – who makes his first start over hurdles. This horse won a bumper for this team impressively back in May and has been found a fair race to make his first start over hurdles. He will have some stiff competition in this race, and horses that have hurdling experience – but this horse could well have a touch of class in comparison to his rivals. The way he won that bumper was in taking fashion and he represents a yard with a lot of good young stock. The affiliation between Crawford and these owners is growing day to day, and he will be hopeful of a winning hurdling debut. At a price of 10/3 with Bet365, he is worth chancing. 

The 1.05 race is a 2m4f handicap hurdle for horses rated between 0-125 and this has attracted a decent field of 10 to post. He would not be the most trustworthy conveyance, but I think the overpriced horse in this line-up is Grand Morning, who reverts to hurdles after a few questionable runs over fences. In fact, he was tailed off over fences at this course the last time we saw him and he arrives here with questions to answer. However, he has run round the hurdle course in Ayr four times in his career, and it has yielded 3 wins and a second, so the track does play into his strengths. As I mentioned, he is a bit quirky and not the most willing at times, but he has a lot of ability and he looks overpriced in this field. At a price of 11/1 with William Hill, who offer 4 places, he should run well. 

The 2.45 race is the second last race on the card and the final race I’ll be looking at – and is a 3m handicap chase. This looks to be a competitive small field race and you could make a case for plenty of these. Shanroe Al C arrives with a likeable profile for a shrewd Irish yard, but will have to prove he can back up his performance last time out. Instead, I am going to be siding with the likeably consistent, Juge et Parti. This horse represents the combination of Ewart and Hughes, who have teamed up well over the last couple of seasons and this horse looks to be holding his form very well this year. Having won for Archie Watson earlier in the year, he has gone on to win for current connections before a good third in a higher grade at Carlisle last time out. He steps back into 0-125 company today and although he must carry top weight, he surely has an excellent chance. At a price of 7/2 with Bet365, let’s hope he finishes the day on a good note.