Ayr Tuesday - Dodlands are double-handed

Late Mail - Enemy At The Gate is a non runner (heat in a leg)

As the man says, there are a couple of runners at Ayr neatly book-ending the card - which means a lot of time on our hands to enjoy the hospitality (alcohol free - we're a professional, working team).

Of course that doesn't apply to owners of Enemy At The Gate (Billy Garritty) in the opener tomorrow at 12.30, racing in the stable's colours but no doubt well supported by the friends of Tony H. Enjoy the day, lads.
This is a novice hurdle over 2 miles, and the going is given as good to soft but may ride a little faster......we'll see.
The Fame and Glory gelding ran a fine race over 2m 4f in a very good novice hurdle at Carlisle last month, and we'd like to see him put in another good outing with a fine round of jumping. This is his third hurdle race, and all being well he should get a handicap mark next Tuesday.

This looks a good race, with a mixture of horses with promising efforts last time over hurdles and exciting bumper recruits with winning form making their jumping debut under rules.
Despite pulling hard, Ewart's Muhtamar finished a good second over c&d 3 weeks ago and is now fitted with a hood. If he settles, he could well be in the mix jumping the second last.
Local trainer Mike Smith runs two in the race and both should be competitive as Well Planted (also a winner on the flat) was still there with a chance when falling at the last at Sedgefield last month and has since joined his yard from John Quinn.  Stable companion The Jad Factor is certainly open to improvement but shapes as if he would be best at further (on style of running and pedigree).......so look out for him staying on.

So what of these bumper winners on jumping debut?

Brother Ali (sorry Nephew Ewan, old habits die hard) saddles the impressive Stratford scorer Scots Poet (the hood and tongue strap are retained). Kinneston Nick runs his well-touted Martaline gelding Travail D'Orfevre who could well put his disappointing run last time behind him following a wind operation.

But the standout recruit to jumping is Nicky R's My Risk gelding Soft Risk (just the 4th French bred that we've listed here) who looked to have a big future when easily winning back here in May. He looks the one to beat.

And onto the concluding race on the card, as nearly always a National Hunt Flat race over 2 miles.

It can be a nervous time, as you can never be sure just how a young horse seeing a racecourse for the first time will react. The recently named Cowboy Cooper (Craig Nichol) has always been a favourite of Callum, the Assistant Trainer at Dodlands. (In case you're wondering what that role entails - basically Callum does all the work, takes the blame when things go awry while Donald receives the plaudits).

As much as Sure Risk is an eye-catcher in the first race, The Crawford Bros. bring over the Souade/Munir owned Carnfunnock to contest the bumper. The form of his one run when third in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown is rock solid. The first two have yet to run again but the 4th, 5th and 7th have won bumpers since and the 6th was 3rd on debut in a novice hurdle.
He'll be very hard to beat with the owner-retained Daryl Jacob in he saddle.

Geordie's Dream looks a promising horse also, having won a Kelso bumper but he'll have to concede 7lb all round.

Greatrex brings Allanah's Boy up (he also runs an odds-on shot in the maiden hurdle) but Gavin Sheehan may find it, er, hard to win here.

Many others who have run look as if they'll improve with further time and experience but there are a couple of essentially flat-bred newcomers who may be best suited by the ground conditions.
Paddock Cottage (by Pour Moi) is a half brother to a flat winner and his dam is a half sister to a 3-time Group 3 winner. Star is a son of a 5f 2yr -old winning dam who in turn is a daughter of a half-sister to Group 1 winners.

Vintage Fizz has had a couple of runs already and has nice pedigree for bumpers.

Another very interesting event and whatever Cowboy Cooper achieves here, he'll progress with the experience.