Only handicaps today

Mainly low level racing at today´s 5 meetings, with handicaps dominating all 5 cards. The best of them is arguably the 6 furlongs race at Ayr at 18.30 CET, and quite a few of these runners will no doubt be aimed at the big handicaps over this trip here in September. My Name is Rio (Michael Dods/ Paul Mulrennan) indeed ran third last year in the Bronze Cup. he should run well again, but has gone uip in the weights and is looking a bit exposed, so we prefer the two above him in the handicap- Boy in the Bar (Richard Fahey/ Tony Hamilton) and Shared Equity (Jedd O´Keeffe/ Graham Lee), both very consistent over this trip and relatively lightly raced. The former was runner-up in a hot handicap at York last time but we just prefer the latter.

There is also a competitive 6 furlongs handicap at 20.40 at Pontefract this evening, but this one is for 3yo´s only. In this case we go for the bottom weights, Dawn´s Early Light (Tom Dascombe/ Richard Kingscote), Shootingsta (Bryan Smart/ Paul Hanagan) and Midlander (Mark Johnston/ Silvestre de Sousa). The first-named has been placed on all 3 career starts, including this CD, while the second won cosily last time after being placed 3 times, but we also like Midlander; Johnston has been trying him over various distances, but this trip could be ideal.

There is Irish racing at Roscommon this evening, with 4 flat races followed by 3 chases, including the Connacht National over 3 miles at 21.30, which is the most valuable race of the day. This looks really tricky with 15 runners, none of whom can be readily discarded, but we shall take a chance on oldtimer Prince Rudi (Sandra Nolan/ Ian McCarthy); the 13yo is much better over hurdles than over fences, but he ran third in this race last year and is nicely handicapped now.

Ayr - betting forecast:
1. Race: King`s Pavilion - Birkdale - Causey Arch
2. Race: Donna Graciosa - Moon Arc - Haymarket
3. Race: Finn Class - Evanescent - Grissom
4. Race: Royal Duchess - Tanawar - Diatomic
5. Race: Blue Jacket - Sewn Up - Our Man Phil
6. Race: Quest Of Colour - Strong Steps - Warfare
7. Race: Boy In The Bar - My Name Is Rio - Shared Equity
8. Race: El Massivo - Rainford Glory - Hatton Springs