Only Ayr this afternoon

With Newton Abbot called off, Ayr stages the only racing this afternoon, but the card is very poor, with 6 low-level handicaps and a 2yo maiden with 4 runners.The best race is the 5 furlongs handicap at 15.30 CET, which looks very open and all 9 runners have a chance. Top-weight Head Space (Ruth Carr/ james Sullivan) was an easy winner here over 6 furlongs from Crimson Knot (Alan Berry/ Tom Eaves) and Rothesby Chancer (Jim Goldie/ Graham Lee), who meet him on much better terms now but have both well beaten since. Perhaps the safest bet is Hazelrigg (Tim Easterby/ David Allan), who has not won for ages but ran well last time to be second over this CD, while oldtimer Haajes (Paul Midgeley/ Ned Curtis) is also not out of it with a good claimer oin board.

The racing this evening is slightly better and there is a listed race at Roscommon (Ireland) over 1 1/2 miles at 21.30. 3 of the 10 runners are owned by the Aga Khan and it is significant that his retained jockey Johnny Murtagh has chosen to ride Mike Halford´s Maasiyn, up in trip after winning over 10 furlongs last time. The stable´s other runner Defining Year (Shane Foley) is also up in trip, as is consistent Aaraas (Kevin Prendergast/ Declan McDonogh), but as the going is certain to be very testing, we prefer to go for a runner with proven stamina, in which case Offer (Aidan O´Brien/ Colm O´Donoghue) and the oldest horse in the field Sense of Purpose (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen), third and sixth respectively in the Curragh Cup over 1 3/4 miles come into the reckoning. Weld´s mare has a penalty as the only group winner in the field and so Offer is narrowly preferred.

At Windsor, Viscount Vert (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) attempts to cpmplete a quick hat-trick in the mile handicap for 3yo´s at 20.10; he is clearly much improved and can go in again. Topweight Takeitfromalady (Ralph Beckett/ Jim Crowley) and the two Hannon runners Sugarformyhoney (Ryan Moore) and Eurystheus (Richard Hughes) are the main dangers.
Another much improved 3yo is Sir Mark Prescott´s Athenian (Chris Catlin), who runs in the 76 furlongs handicap at 21.20 at Ripon. He has gone up 20 lbs for winning 3 races this season, but still looks the likeliest winner.