There is plenty of competitive racing at Ayr over the next two days, quite apart from tomorrow’s Coral Scottish Grand National. With some decent prize money on offer too, it is not surprising that the quality of the cards is high.
The Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (tomorrow, 2.25 p.m.), unlike its English counterpart at the Cheltenham Festival, is a handicap and, as such, there are plenty of horses in with a chance of landing the £56,000-plus prize for the winner.
Dan Skelton’s L’Eau du Sud is understandably at the top of the market after two big runs in his last two races, notably when runner-up last time out in the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle at the Festival. However, odds of 4-1 or less are unappealing, especially as he is creeping up the handicap too.
I feel guilty about deserting Cracking Rhapsody as he did this column a big favour when winning the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso last month, but tomorrow’s contest looks more competitive and he, too, is up in the ratings.
On balance, I am going to put up a horse at the bottom of the weights who is actually 8lbs out of the handicap proper, which is never ideal. SALSADA had nearly a year off the track, presumably because of a setback, but he has now had three runs in March to get him fit for this contest. I suspect this has been his major target for some time.
Brian Ellison’s seven-year-old gelding was fifth in this race last year on ground too quick for him but tomorrow’s ground with cut in it should be ideal. Claimer Dylan Johnston will take a useful 5 lbs off so take a chance and back Salsada each way at 20-1 with bet365 paying four places.
I have put up two horses for the Scottish Grand National (tomorrow, 3.35 p.m.) and with mixed results so far. Git Maker has virtually halved in price after being put up at 14-1. However, I regret to say Twoshotsoftequila is a non-runner, which is annoying because Brian Hughes, who gets on well with the horse, had been booked for the ride earlier in the week and the horse had been well backed too.
Willie Mullins brings over no less than six horses for the Scottish National as he tries to land the British jump trainers’ championship, while the improving Inis Oirr looks sure to run a big race for trainer Lucinda Russell. However, if Git Maker has recovered from his Festival exertions, he is very much the one for me.
Finally, I have a fancy for today’s racing: GLEN CANNEL has been described in the past by his trainer, Laura Morgan, as a ‘gorgeous horse’. He was weak last season but, as a six-year-old gelding, he has strengthen up and could make a decent novice chaser next season.
Glen Cannel has been third is his two runs over hurdles this year and with Morgan’s yard in fine form – two winners from just five runners over the past fortnight – today could be this horse’s day in the winner’s enclosure.
However, Glen Cannel has been backed overnight into favourite in the GS Group ‘Hands & Heels’ Handicap Hurdle (5 p.m.) so the suggestion is two points win – rather than the usual 1 point each way – at 7-2 with bet365.
My Randox Grand National horses ran disappointingly last weekend but it was still a very profitable weekend for followers of this column’s tips. Arizona Cardinal’s gutsy victory in the Topham Chase (put up at 16-1 although he won at 20-1), plus a couple of other placed horses, means a profit of well over 50 points to a 1 point stake since the start of the jumps’ season, with just one weekend to go.
Next weekend I will be taking a close look at the Sandown card highlighted by the bet365 Gold Cup.
Pending:
2 points win Glen Cannel at 7-2 for the GS Group “Hands & Heels” Handicap Hurdle.
1 point each way Salsada at 20-1 for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Git Maker at 14-1 for the Scottish Grand National, 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Twoshotsoftequila at 25-1 for the Scottish Grand National, 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Threeunderthrufive at 20-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup, 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Desertmore House at 25-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup, 1/5th odds, 4 places.
Settled bets from last weekend: + 15.2 points.
1 point each way Your Darling at 16-1 for the Topham Chase, 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Arizona Cardinal at 16-1 for the Topham Chase, 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1st. + 19.2 points.
1 point each way Might I at 18-1 for the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, 1/5th odds, 6 places. 6th. + 2.6 points.
1 point each way Mahler Mission at 20-1 for the Randox Grand National, 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Vanillier at 16-1 for the Randox Grand National, 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Panda Boy at 40-1 for the Randox Grand National, 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Libberty Hunter at 12-1 for the Maghull Novices’ Chase, 1/5th odds, 3 places. 3rd. +1.4 points.
2023-4 jump seasons to date: + 53.81 points.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
My gambling record for the past eight years: I have made a profit in 14 of the past 16 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the overall profit of has been 475 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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