GREAT FINISHES KEEP MARCH CROWDS ENTERTAINED

Monday March 10, 2008

AYR BEATS THE WEATHER… BUT ONLY JUST
AYR Racecourse's two day March meeting last week had a constant battle with the weather but in the end 12 of the scheduled 14 races over the two days were run.
And although there probably weren't any future champions on show at the pre Cheltenham fixture there were plenty of highlights and exciting finishes.
On Friday the heavy going caught out all but three of the 11 starters in the opener, the Bacardi Rum Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Only three finished headed by 66/1 outsider Boris The Blade trained by Tina Jackson and ridden by Tom Dreaper.
Dreaper went on to complete a double on Blackpool Billy (10/11 fav) in the Whyte & Mackay National Hunt Maiden Hurdle. Trained by Ferdy Murphy and owned by Trevor Hemmings the six year old gave an impressive performance to beat Castletown Boy (12/1) by nine lengths.
It was a good meeting for Scottish trainers and on Friday there were three tartan triumphs -Alan Parker's Merigo (9/2), ridden by Brian Harding in the J20 Handicap Chase; Top Mark (10/1) from Lucinda Russell's stable in the hands of Peter Buchanan in the CJ Pask Wines Novices Handicap Hurdle and The Bajan Bandit (2/9 fav) trained by Lenny Lungo and ridden by Tom Greenall in the Maclachlans Hunter Chase.
The Bajan Bandit was making it an incredible nine wins from 10 starts at Ayr but had to fight all the way to hold off No Shenanigans (18/1).
One of the most impressive performances of the two days came in Friday's Sunnycliff Wines Handicap Hurdle for the James Barclay Challenge Trophy which saw Paddy the Piper (3/1) come back from a 17 month absence to win by 12 lengths from Aberdare (5/2 fav). The winner was ridden by Richard McGrath and is trained by Pauline Robson.
Father and son trainer - jockey partnership Tim and Robert Walford landed the Minicellar Wines Beginners' Chase with Gypsy George (11/2).
An early morning inspection on Saturday passed the course fit to race and although the last two races had to be abandoned because of worsening ground the five that were run provided some great entertainment.
Again Scottish trainers had a great day winning four out of the five races. Midlothian based Peter Monteith had a double with Quicuyo (9/2) in the Status Quo At Ayr On May 24 Novices Hurdle and Millie The Filly (5/2 fav) (pictured above right) in the Guinness Novices Handicap Hurdle. Both were ridden by young Hawick jockey Ryan Mania having his first ever winners.
Best finsish of the day came in the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Corporate Banking Handicap Chase when Lucinda Russell's 11/1 chance Jefertiti (Peter Buchanan) held on by a head from Something Silver (9/4 fav) trained by Jim Goldie and ridden by Richard McGrath.
Borders trainer Rayson Nixon landed the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Wealth Management Handicap Hurdle with Kempski at 33/1 in the hands of Brian Hughes.
And the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Handicap Chase for the High Barclay Trophy went to 9/2 chance Jimmy Bond ridden by Richard McGrath and trained by his mother in law Kate Walton.
Ayr next races on Thursday March 27 with the first race at 2.10 pm. Advance bookings can be made online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or by calling 0870-8505666. Discounts are available on bookings made seven or more days in advance.

GREAT FINISHES KEEP MARCH CROWDS ENTERTAINED

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