Ayr Wednesday

Thankfully some genuine soft ground on which to race. Ayr on Wednesday is the venue for 3 runners from Dodlands.

Our first runner of the day is novice hurdler Eden Mill in the 1.50pm over 2 miles. A reasonable amount of form on view here, be it from Bumpers (Gege Ville, Fortescue Wood), Irish Points (Bellabawn) or Irish Flat and Jumps (Benz). No more than fair ability thus far, but I guess that's what the novice sphere is all about. Inexperienced types who will progress at differing rates.

Eden Mill will be one of the outsiders, on this his 3rd start in a hurdle. He looks the type to be more competitive in handicaps in due course so we hope he can re-capture a bit of the sparkle he showed earlier on in his career last season.
Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle and good luck to him and the lads of TD9 Racing.

Eden Mill (Pinky) tracks Laura aboard Bonny Houxty

Our very exciting novice chaser Stolen Money starts off his fencing career in the 2 mile 4½ furlong novice handicap chase at 2.55pm.
He was successful three times last season in handicap hurdles on testing ground over 3 miles so this middle distance trip might just be on the sharp side for the Prince Flori gelding, who starts off carrying over his hurdle mark of OR116.
But he has the make and shape of a staying chaser and we look forward to him building on whatever he achieves here throughout the season.

The likely favourite Grand Voyage ran a very good race on his chase debut at Ayr last month, and is suited by the trip and soft ground. The one to beat for sure but other Scottish based runners have claims of being involved at the finish such as Lord Roco, Travail D'Orfevre and Straight Swap. The inconsistent Forpaddytheplumber can't be ruled out either.

A very competitive race full of promising chasers for the season.

Craig Nichol takes the mount in the stables' colours.

Onto the last for our 3rd runner of the day where Eternally Yours makes a quick reappearance in the extended 2½ mile mares' handicap hurdle. She's dropped 1lb since her last run over 3 miles here 11 days ago and is due to be dropped a further 2lb in future races......
However, she will be suited by both the drop back in trip and softer ground but does need to pick up a bit from that last outing, which was her seasonal debut.

Kinneston Nick's Charm Offensive beat our mare by 2 lengths over c&d back in March is and 4lb worse off but that may not stop this progressive type. Millarville has been consistent in Scottish handicap hurdles over the last couple of seasons and is weighted to run well again here. McCain's Could Be Better takes a drop in class here after finishing 4th to a subsequent USA Grand National runner up in a Class 2 event at Market Rasen.
Mike Smith introduces ex-Irish Dot Cotton to make both her British and handicap debut off OR106, and this race will tell if the handicapper has got that guess correct.
Also making a stable debut is the ex Linda Perrett trained Starlyte for Lucinda, who may well improve for the change of scenery.

6 runners, a hugely competitive event and Theo Gillard rides in the stables' colours.

Kelso reflections

The bumper was sadly an unfortunate race at Kelso on Saturday which saw 3 of the runners (including the first two in the betting)  come to grief on the home turn. Thoughts with the Rebecca Menzies yard as her Sageblue suffered a fatal injury.

Gie It Laldy showed a bit of return to the form of his debut last season and raced prominently until caught for a turn of toe in the last 1½ furlongs. We hope he can now build on this.