Couple of runners at Ayr, Tuesday

Light rain predicted all morning at Ayr on Tuesday, which if correct will take the sting out of the advance going report (good to soft, good places).

In the Class 5 mares only handicap hurdle at 3.15 over an extended 2m 5f, Maid of Houxty would appear to have plenty to do against some well handicapped rivals.
For example, overnight favourite Miss Bamby has been raised 1lb for winning a handicap hurdle last time and now has Alan Doyle reducing her weight by a further 7lb.
Our mare has yet to be placed in 3 outings this season and has to concede 12lb to that horse prior to claimer adjustments.
She is also set to meet lightly raced hurdle winner Aazza off levels and give 2lb to a horse who was beaten under 5 lengths in a Class 2 event last time.

And that's without looking too hard.........answers on a post card.

Anyway, we hope Bill & Carol enjoy the day at the races and good luck too to Theo Gillard who comes in for the ride.

Now that we're on a theme..........up next is the 3 mile Class 5 0-105 handicap hurdle at 3.50.
Shoeshine Boy has been knocking on the door in recent runs since sent handicap hurdling - 4 consecutive runner up slots - but hasn't been missed by the handicapper. He's gone up 8lb in that period without winning to a mark of OR96 and would need to improve again to have a say in this. Plenty of give in the ground may have presented him with that opportunity but it looks like good to soft so........

Bak Rocky was noted by many as - ahem - been given a lot to do when 5th in a Class 2 handicap at Kelso last time. Dropped 2lb., market moves for him would be significant.
Lucinda's Your Place has been running consistently well this season, again like our fellow without winning, and much the same can be said about Mike Smith's Go Bob Go.

This race looks set up for an unexposed improver.

Mouse & his cohorts will be out in force though and will surely enjoy the day. Craig Nichol, who has now officially recorded his best ever season with 37 winners will try to add to that tally here. Best of luck.

Out of luck at Hexham, Monday

Well......so much for soft ground. Couple of days of dry weather was more than enough to change the soft/heavy conditions a few days earlier to an official good to soft, although it seemed to be even quicker than that.

Too quick for Eternally Yours who ran well enough in 3rd behind East Street (who found the drying ground ideal), beaten 8 lengths just outpaced from the top of the hill turning for home. She looked as if she was full throttle most of the way to keep in touch so goodness knows when/if we'll get soft ground conditions any time soon. Not just for this mare but for most of her stablemates too.

Earlier both our hurdle debutants ran 5th in their respective races with Eden Mill probably the more encouraging of the two. He was in rear most of the way, a few novicey jumps but stuck to his task without troubling the leaders. Beaten 28 lengths.
Paper Tiger raced in rear too but didn't jump well enough to keep in touch and was struggling from halfway to finish a long way behind the winner at the line.