Cowboy Cooper at Ayr today

Ayr 20th January : 1.50 pm 2m 5½f 0-100 Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)

Back over hurdles for Cowboy Cooper today at Ayr for his belated seasonal bow. It was back in May (I know, strictly this season but you know what we mean) that our gelding won over fences and a few furlongs further at Perth on good to soft ground.
He doesn't have any of these conditions here at Ayr (distance, jumps type, going) but there's not an overabundance of races to suit so Cowboy Cooper takes his chance.

Craig Nichol rides and he faces 13 opponents.

Willie Young's Santa Clarita finished in front of our own So Many Roads here over 2½ miles at the start of the year in the race won by Alright Dai, which was the mare's best run for some time. She kept on well that day, and if reproducing that form would go close.

The race is choc-a-bloc with horses trained in Scotland with several from our own Hawick environs in particular. Jackie S & Ewan are represented but the ones to the fore in the betting market hail from deepest Perthshire with Kinneston Nick (2) and Lucinda (1).
The latter trainer runs Helsgetaway who although still a maiden has shown promise a few times over hurdles and did go close in a bumper last season.
Of Nick Alexander's two, the ex French Anamanda - a triple flat winner - looks the type to be able to win a race of this caliber and is preferred over Maillot Blanc.

But maybe the one we Scots have most to fear is Nicky Richards' lightly raced, handicap debutant Red Cadillac.

Fascinating contest, good luck to all Scottish connections, especially Cowboy Cooper's Bill Aitchison who hails from just over the border but we'll forgive him that!
Enjoy the day, Bill.