18:05 Sorry but not much time for a report on the last race, as I have to dash to the airport to get my flight home.
Suffice to say there was finally some joy for the punters as the 6/4 favourite Conflictofinterest, ridden by Ruby Walsh took the bumper by six lengths.
Well that’s another festival over. Some good results for local trainers – not too good for punters though.
Festival lovers don’t have too long a wait as Punchestown kicks off in just three days time – see you there.
5:55 Ashleybank Investments Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
1st 10 Conflictofinterest 6/4 fav
2nd 2 Knockara Beau 14/1
3rd 1 China Gold 3/1
15 Ran NR’s 6 Alan’s Legacy & 16 Walk Tall
Distances 6 lengths 1¾ lengths
17:25 Another plethora of non-runners in the next, four of them not going this time.
Raining Horse ran without the declared tongue strap – why is that allowed, it is not fair on punters who backed the horse.
Merigo and Raining Horse were the front runners for the first circuit, whilst Mr Strachan was already getting backhanders as they passed the post for the penultimate time.
Half way down the back straight Star Player was pulled up.
At the last down the far side Raining Horse fell and thank goodness for plastic rails, leaving Merigo in front with the favourite Ballabriggs the challenger.
Down the home straight it was a two horse race. Ballagriggs ploughed through the top of the second last probably blowing his chance.
In the run in Merigo just ran on to take the spoils
5:20 Cenkos Securities Novices’ Handicap Chase
1st 11 Merigo 13/3
2nd 10 Ballabriggs 9/4 fav
3rd 3 Mr Strachan7/1
8 Ran NR’s 1, 2 , 6 & 7
Distance 3½ lengths , 8 lengths
17:15 Another plethora of non-runners in the next, four of them not going this time.
17:07 It is very distracting going to the pre-parade ring to look at the runners - to get there one has to go past the champange bar. It has to be said the ladies up here will not let a little thing like a cold wind prevent them coming out in their finery. At times it is difficult to keep ones eyes on the four legged fillies.
17:05 Six races down and two to go. Plenty of smiles around the betting ring - sadly the smiles are on the faces of the bookies.
16:55 Two miles over fences and the early pace was fast and furious.
Andreas made the early pace as they passed the lollypop for the first time.
Stan was held up near the rear early on, trying to conserve energy presumably.
Turning from the back straight and Andreas still led at a fast pace – Stan was third four lengths behind, with Marcel looking to be the leaders main challenger.
Two out Marcel decided the race is his and leaves the others standing, Andreas took second, Greenhope third and Stan only able to finish fourth, unable to get his hat trick.
The winner is trained by Peter Monteith, giving the locals another winner – it has been a good festival for them.
4:50 Albert Bartlett And Sons Handicap Chase
1st 6 Marcel 6/1
2nd Andreas 100/30
7 Ran NR 7 Helen Wood
Distance 5 lengths
16:48 Question - can Stan win for the third time in three days? possibly but his price is far too short for me.
16:39 The fall in the last race almost had a bad ending with Richard Johnson ending up being trapped under Hearthsted Dream. Luckily he was extracated Ok and everyone, human and equine, walked away from the incident, albeit rather stiffly.
16:25 Back over hurdles and only 2 miles 5 furlongs this time.
Echo Point, in his usual front running manner, and Gansey set the early pace, in the sunshine.
After a circuit the order was unchanged with the field covered by eight lengths. Ruby Walsh on the favourite Pacha d’Oudaiies was happy to track the field.
The entire complexion of the race changed at the last in the back straight when Herthstead Dream fell bringing down the favourite Pacha d’Oudaiies who paid the price for playing a waiting game.
Gansey looked to be in prime position approaching the last, but Overserved gave trainer Pauline Robson her second winner of the meeting, running on well at 25/1.
Menchikov under AP McCoy took third place.
I suppose it would be unfair to winning connections to suggest they may have been fortunate winners as Pacha d’Oudaiies was looking good when bought down – but that is racing and it is good to see a small trainer get the better of the big boys.
The winner has a couple of wins over hurdles but did not seem to take to chasing last time out, it looks as though he will be staying over the smaller obstacles in future.
4:20 Ballochmyle By Ardgowan Homes Handicap Hurdle
1st 4 Overserved 25/1
2nd 9 Gansey 16/1
3rd 6 Menchikov 5/1
10 Ran NR’s 1, 2, 3, 7, 12
Distance 5 lengths , 16 lengths
16:15 We now have five non-runners in the next, so only ten to post
16:10 The winner was trained by former jockey Sean Curran, who said he was more nervous watching the race than he ever was riding.
I have also noted a trend developing here, winning rider Charlie Huxley, like the winning rider in the previous race, was having his first ride at Ayr. It was also the trainers first runner.
16:00 There must be some very happy punters somewhere as, looking at the betting returns, the winner was available at 125/1 this morning and had been backed into 66's.
15:50 Well I may as well give up now, we were all saying with so many horses out of the handicap the winner must be one high up in the weights.
What happens a runner 25lbs out of the handicap won the race. No that is not true – he walked away with it, against a high class field.
You don’t expect, after four miles, for a horse to spring heel the last but that is precisely what Iris De Balme did to this 24 runner field.
Three out it looked as though the top weight Halcon Genelardais was going to add the Scottish national to his impressive CV, but was left standing by the winners turn of foot.
Flintoff, who can be a bit of a rogue took third place with the favourite Old Benny taking fourth.
3:40 Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap
1st 22 Iris De Balme 66/1
2nd 1 Halcon Genelardais 10/1
3rd 9 Flintoff 28/1
4th 4 Old Benny 4/1 fav
24 Ran
Distance 14 lengths, 2¼ lengths
15:37 Old Benny is almost certain to go off favourite - not quite what I expected, but there you go.
15:30 Ten minutes to the big race. Should be interesting as only three of the 24 runners are carrying the proper weight.
The betting says it is between the first two in the Welsh National, Miko De Beauchene and Halcon Genelardais.
15:10 Plenty of front runners ensured a good pace. Bywell Beau was the early leader, with the grey Sporazeen keeping him company.
Lough Derg sat in last place throughout and was outpaced, which begs the question why did connections run him as a distance well short of his best?
The complexion of the race changed at the end of the back straight as the field bunched up.
Coming to the second last the favourite Takerok was poised to make his challenge but Border Castle, who took up the running three out, was not going to be headed and strode out to win easily from the favourite, with Kalahari King way back in third.
Happiest of all was winning jockey Nick Scholfield who was having his first ever ride at Ayr – is he riding in the National?
3:00 Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle
1st 7 Border Castle 40/1
2nd 9 Takerock 9/4 fav
3rd 6 Kalahari King 9/2
4th 4 French Saulaie 10/1
16 Ran NR 14 Heathcote
Distance 3 lengths, 10 lengths
14:55 A late non-runner in the next No 14 Heathcote does not go
14:42 The first of the big races next with the Scottish Champion Hurdle with seventeen going to post.
A very open race with cases to be made for many of the runners. I fancy Kalahari King, fourth in the Supreme Novices who is in this race off a decent mark.
14:38 So they set off at a good pace. Frankie Figg and Gods Token take them along to begin.
Noland was happy to sit fourth of the five with Endless Power who ran yesterday the whipper in.
As they passed the line for the first time Gods Token has run his race and is now last. Noland made a minor mistake at one of the fences and again at the first in the back.
A mile from home four in contention, Gods token was the one tailed off.
Five from home and another mistake from Noland who is coming under pressure as Frankie Figg still leads.
Three from home and Noland makes his move jumping well into the lead at the second last.
Jumping the last it looked like Noland’s race but Starzaan got his second wind and as Noland seemed to tire on the run in Starzaan ran on to take a deserved victory.
To be honest another run from Noland that raises more questions than answers.
2:30 Ashleybank Investments Future Champion Novices’ Chase
1st 4 Starzaan 9/2
2nd 2 Noland 4/7 fav
5 Ran
Distance 2¼ lengths
14:25 Noland looks set to go off the odds on favourite in the next – not for me though. He wasn’t that impressive on his chasing debut and doesn’t look that impressive today. I have a fancy for Starzaan
14:05 Is it really April? If feels more like January with the cold wind that is blowing.
14:00 Only six to post for the first, including La Vecchia Scuola who won here yesterday afternoon.
Super Formen set the early pace, joined briefly by Currahee down the back straight.
Coming out of the back straight yesterdays winner was the challenger who came upsides after three out.
Coming to the last they were side by side but La Vecchia Scuola jumped into the lead at the last and accelerated away up the run in for a second win in in 24 hours – well done.
1:55 Purvis Marquees Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle
1st 8 La Vecchia Scuola 3/1
2nd 7 Super Formen 2/1 fav
6 Ran NR’s 5 Quilinton, 6 Rich Lord
Distance 15l
13:50 Welcome to Ayr where we have 18,000 racegoers awaiting the Scottish national at 3:40.