Ayr, Great Leighs and Yarmouth

The three flat meetings this afteroon offer very little in the way of better class racing. In addition, the fields at Ayr, where the ground is firm, are very small, with 4 of the 7 races having 4 runners or less. Best betting race there is the class 6 handicap over 9 furlongs at 16.20 CET. Zabeel Tower (Richard Allan/ Tony Hamilton) is much better on turf than on the all-weather and has won both his 2008 races, both this month, but faces a stiff task under top weight. Consistet Lady Valentino (Michael Dods/Phillip Makin) looks a likely alternative. At Great Leighs, where yesterday´s premiere went off more or less successfully, although the facilities are far from finished, the two last time out winners Maimoona (William Haggas/ Richard Hills) and Be Fortyfour (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson) can dominate the 5 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 16.00, while Kevin Ryan´s Tamagin is the most interesting runner in the 6 furlongs conditions race at 16.30; he has finished first or second in his last 7 races and is expected to make up into a group race performer this season. Another multiple winner is Gary Moore´s Art Man, who can score for the 5th time in 2008 under son Ryan in the 10 furlongs handicap half an hour later. At Yarmouth, Grand izier (Chris Wall/ Jack Mitchell) can make the most of his lenient turf rating to take the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.10, while Equileus Pictor (Jon Spearing/ Jack Dean), who has been running over 6 furlongs, may be suited by the drop back to the minimum distance at 17.40.