ITV Racing Tips from Scottish Grand National Day at Ayr and Newbury
1:15 Ayr
A short but select field for the opening handicap chase over the extended 2 miles.
Plenty of horses that like to go forward here and that should suit PERSIAN TIME (6/1) who was value for his neck victory at Kempton last time out. He won a share cosily than that and a 3lb rise is more than fair. That was at the time when the Henderson horses were under a cloud and there’s certainly been more encouragement in that department since. He’s 2/4 over fences and he’s still improving. I think he’s the value in the opener.
1:30 Newbury
We head to Newbury for the first of four live races. The 1:30 is the Group 3 Finest Surprise Stakes, also known as the John Porter.
It’s CHESSPIECE (9/1) NAP I like in this for the Simon and Ed Crisford team. He shown a strong level of form in his 3 year-old campaign last season and there should be more to come from him in 2024. Although he shown decent form over staying trips, he’s two victories comes over 1m3f on good to soft and 1m4f on good to firm ground. That shows he has plenty of place too and with William Buick jocked up, I think he’s overpriced.
1:50 Ayr
The 1:50 from Ayr is a handicap chase for the novices over 3m.
The one for me is DEEPER BLUE (6/1) EW. Harry Fry is in great form at present coming off a great couple of days at Cheltenham, he can add to his tally with a winner here at Ayr. He was a fine second when we last seen him at Newbury pulling 10 lengths clear of the third. He now runs off 3lb higher here which seems more than fair. Connections opt for first-time cheekpieces which can hopefully squeeze other a bit more improvement.
2:05 Newbury
The 2:05 from Newbury is the Fred Darling, a Group 3 for the fillies over 7f.
I’ll chance STAR MUSIC (7/2) NB in this. Trainer Richard Hughes can’t do a lot wrong at the moment and his filly is worth siding with in this. She shown plenty of ability last season in her first year and her final effort when finishing third in the Oh So Sharp Stakes was highly encouraging. She nearly stole that from the front and if she can adopt similar tactics here on quicker ground, I think she’ll be a tough nut to crack.
2:25 Ayr
It’s back to Ayr for the 2:25, the Scottish Champion Hurdle, a competitive handicap over 2m.
I’ll chance AFADIL (12/1) EW here at the prices. He’s coming off two fine efforts in handicap company, firstly when 5th in the County Hurdle before finishing third last week at Aintree. He was slowly away there after a standing start and that effort can be marked up. He will appreciate the drying ground and he can hopefully add another victory to his tally up here in Scotland. A race of this nature looks sure to play to his strengths.
2:40 Newbury
The 2:40 at Newbury is next up, the Greenham Stakes, a Group 3 over 7f for the 3 year-old colts.
A tough one to call but at the prices it’s ROOM SERVICE (8/1) EW for me. He had a really solid campaign last season which ended in a big victory at Doncaster on his final 2 year-old start. He shown a willing attitude and a decent turn of footy to fend his rivals off there to beat a competitive handicap field by over 2 of the. I’d expect he’ll improve for this step up to 7f for the first time and Kevin Ryan had a big winner earlier in the week when landing the Abernant Stakes. Hopefully he can land the spoils with a shock winner here too.
3:00 Ayr
The 3:00 from Ayr is a mares handicap hurdle over the extended 3 mile trip.
It’s OTTOZINI (10/1) EW like in this. A consistent sort who bolted up two starts back off just a 1lb lower mark at Musselburgh, she backed that up with a fine second placed effort at Doncaster last month. She was dropped 2lb for that which seems very generous and this prominent racer could get into a nice rhythm out in front with there likely to be not much pace. Crawford had a nice winner here at Ayr on Friday and I think he can go close to having another one here. I’d expect her to hit the frame at least.
3:15 Newbury
The final race from Newbury is the 3:15, the competitive Spring Cup Handicap over the mile.
It’s NAVAGIO (8/1) EW that I fancy in this. I thought he ran a blinder when finishing third on seasonal return in the Lincoln Handicap. He’s back here off the same mark and with that run under his belt, I think he can go very close. He handles all types of ground and there’s enough pace around him for him to be brought into the race from stall 5. I think he’s a very fair selection in an opener race.
3:35 Ayr
The feature ends proceedings on ITV, the Scottish Grand National ran over 4m.
It’s WHACKER CLAN (14/1) EW for me in this big one. He ran a cracker at Cheltenham finishing third in the Kim Muir. That was on pretty soft ground and any drying ground will certainly be in his favour. He’s a good jumper who likes to go from the front which is ideal in a race of this nature staying out the way of trouble. He was an impressive winner in October on good to soft ground at Cheltenham and off 6lb higher with Blackmore on, I think he can ran a big one.
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