N.H. racing at Ayr and Huntingdon

Huntingdon stages one of its best meetings of the year today, when the main feature is the Sidney Banks Memorial, a novice hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 16.35 CET. All 5 runners are last-time-out winners and it is not easy to make a choice. Minella Class (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) is unbeaten over hurdles and won a Grade One last time, but is penalised as a result, and we feel that Aikman (James Ewart/ Harry Haynes), Captain Kirkton (Gary and Joshua Moore) and Pride in Battle (Alan Kíng/ Robert Thornton) can all be preferred at these weights. The most interesting runner of the day however runs in the novice chase at 16.05. Starluck (Alan Fleming/ Tony McCoy) makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences here. He is a very smart hurdler, 5th in last season´s Champion Hurdle, but connctions have made the decision not to go for the Champion again (which looks really hot this year) but to run him in the Arkle, for which McCoy has lready been booked. Obviousy he has to wi n here in order to have a chance at Cheltenham, and we expect him - judging on his hurdles form - to accomplish this, even though 2 of his 3 opponents are also pretty useful, and have already won over fences.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Line Freedom - Dream Function - Naughty Naughty
2. Race: Thunderstorm - Mayolynn - Easton Clump
3. Race: Starluck - Pascha Bere - Mister Stickler
4. Race: Minella Class - Pride In Battle - Captain Kirkton
5. Race: Sea Saffron - Honourable Arthur - Backfromthecongo
6. Race: Decent Lord - Crackerjac Boy - Torran Sound
7. Race: Templer - Mount Benger - Noakarad De Verzee




The card is much less distinguished at Ayr, where we expect the novice hurdle at 15.50 be fought out between Flinty Bay (Nicky Richards/ Dougie Costello), placed in all 4 starts so far over sticks, and Proud Times (Alan Swinbank/ Barry Keniry), 4th on his debut over this CD and a dual winner on the flat. The form of Tartan Snow´s win at Carlisle 15 days ago has since been boosted by the runner-up and despite an 8 lbs rise in the weights he can score again at 16.55 for trainer Coltherd and jockey Gary Rutherford - who rode him last time.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Overyou - Transact - Classic Henri
2. Race: Flinty Bay - Proud Times - Toledo Gold
3. Race: Rival D`Estruval - And The Man - Inoogoo
4. Race: Tartan Snow - Sheriff Hall - Earl Grez
5. Race: Lampion Du Bost - Sammy Spiderman - Fiftyfive Degrees
6. Race: Noir Et Vert - Special Portrait - Desertmore Star
7. Race: Otterburn - Dark Glacier - Bygones Sovereign