Saturday 20th March 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Feature Meetings: Ayr & Newbury
1.15 Ayr: Scotty Brand Handicap Chase: Kicking things off for me on Scottish Grand National Day will be the 1.15 from Ayr which is a Premier Handicap Chase over two miles and half of a furlong. I like the Willie Mullins runner here Uncle Phil who’s the mount of Paul Townend. He’s been given a break having been last seen back in January when winning a Grade 3 at Fairyhourse by three-and-three-quarters of a length. He looks like a progressive sort and can kick off the day in perfect fashion for Closutton. Uncle Phil – 4/1 (Win)
1.30 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes: I move down to Newbury for my second pick of the day for the 1.30 which is Group 3 action over a mile and four furlongs. I find it hard to get away from Arrest here who represents the team of John & Thady Gosden and is the mount of Kieran Shoemark. He’s a classy performer on his day as he proved on his last outing when finishing second in the St Leger behind Continuous. He’s got form at the track and relishes ground with cut in it, if he’s ready to go he should be going close. Arrest – 13/8 (Win) (NB)
1.50 Ayr: CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase: It’s back up to Ayr now for my third pick which comes in the Champion Handicap Chase over three miles. I’m taking a chance on Deeper Blue here for the combination of Harry Fry and Jonathan Burke. He’s still relatively unexposed over fences and comes into the race off the back of a couple of solid efforts when finishing second at both Hereford and Newton Abbott. I think he can progress further and make his presence felt here for a yard that’s in-form. Deeper Blue – 15/2 (Each-Way)
2.25 Ayr: Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle: Next up for me we stay at Ayr for the 2.25 which is the Scottish Champion Hurdle which is a handicap over two miles. I think that L’Eau du Sud is very solid here for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. He was very well supported at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle when he was narrowly denied in second behind the very useful Absurde of Willie Mullins. If he runs up that level of form again here he should prove very tough to be and he looks to be highly progressive for a yad who have had a fantastic season. L’Eau du Sud – 4/1 (Win) (NAP)
3.00 Ayr: Jordan Electrics Ltd Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle: My fifth selection of the afternoon comes up in the 3.00 which is handicap hurdle action at Ayr over three miles and half of a furlong. I’m with another runner who represents the Skelton yard here in Coco Mademoiselle who’s currently trading at a best price of 5/1. She was impressive on her most recent outing at Chepstow when winning a novice hurdle by four-and-three-quarters of a length. I think she could prove better than this handicap mark and she can have a big say in this. Coco Mademoiselle – 5/1 (Each-Way)
3.15 Newbury: OLBG Spring Cup Handicap: It’s back down to Newbury now for the 3.15 which the Spring Cup which is handicap action over the straight mile. I’m chancing Raadobarg here for the team of George Boughey and William Buick. I put him up on his last run which came in the Irish Lincolnshire where he finished a very respectable third of nineteen. That run should’ve also tuned him up for his next outing and I think he’s got definitely got every chance of going close in one of these big competitive handicaps. If getting a bit of luck in the run he could well go closer here. Raadobarg – 10/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Ayr: Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase: Signing me off for the afternoon will be the feature race of the afternoon which is the Scottish Grand National that’s contested over four miles. I’ve come down on Mr Vango in this year’s renewal of the race for Sarah Bradstock and Ben Jones. He’s a lightly-raced eight-year-old who will carry a lowly weight around here, on his penultimate outing he bolted up at Exeter before finding Corbetts Cross and Embassy Gardens too good in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham when finishing third. I think that there’s more to come from him though and I think he’ll come into his own over this marathon trip. Mr Vango – 16/1 (Each-Way)
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