Flat racing at Ayr, Ffos Las and Beverley

Kieren Fallon could be the star of the show at this afternoon´s Ayr fixture. He has winning chances on Tillietudlum for Jim Goldie in the staying handicap at 16.50 CET (German-bred Los Nadis could be an each-way alternative), top-weight Five Star Junior for Lydia Stubbs in the 5 furlongs handicap at 17.25, who has been running in better company, and Vilnius for Mick Channon in the 3yo handicap half an hour later; however the last-named may struggle to get the better of top-weight Timeless Elegance (Howard Johnson/ Freddie Tylicki), a most impressive winner last time out.

There are small fields at Ffos Las; it is a long way from Mark Johnston´s North Yorkshire base to South Wales, but the trainer - who has runners at all 3 flat meetings today - sends 4 runners on the journey and could be rewarded with a couple of winners. Joe Fanning rides all four, and we give Electioneer in the 3yo 5 furlongs handicap at 16.40, despite being off the track for 9 months, and Opus Maximus in the mile handicap at 17.15 the best chances.

Most valuable race of the day is the listed Hilary Needler Trophy for 2yo fillies at Beverley at 20.30 this evening. This is also Beverley´s biggest race of the year, and the winner usually goes on to the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. With 14 runners (there are 2 non-runners) this is quite an open race, and most of the runners already have winning form. Tom Dascombe won this last year and now has 2 runners, of whom Malpas Millie, with stable jockey Richard Kingscote, looks the more likely, But she faces strong opposition, among others, from Inagh River, from the powerful Richard Hannon stable with Pat Dobbs in the saddle, Geesala (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer) and Dress Up (Silvester Kirk/ William Buick). As always the draw is important here, and horses drawn high have a definite advantage.