07:27 It has been dry overnight with a forecast of a dry start with showers developing from mid-morning.

There are currently no non-runners.

Our suggestions are:-

10:47 Good morning from Ayr where the weather is overcast and we have just had a light shower.

Our seven race card gets underway at 14:20 and we currently have four non-runners, details on the right.

12:05 Another non-runner and, oddly enough, two runners out of the same race with knocked joints.

13:02 There is a reasonably stiff breeze, head on, as they come down the home straight.

13:30 I said I would not carry on about the weather but it is currently lashing down here.

11:40 I have a feeling this is going to be one of those days weather wise. After the shower 45 minutes ago we now have brilliant sunshine, so rather than me changing the weather updates every five minutes, just let’s agree it is changeable.

13:45 The rain is now steady rather than lashing but it will be interesting to see what effect it has on the ground, especially on the bends.

14:00 We get under way with the EBF Maiden Stakes a five furlong contest with eight going to post and Ice Trooper being the non-runner.

The sun is out again.

14:08 The runners are in the parade ring for our opener.

Not too badly behaved for two-year-olds.

Lexi’s Hero was whinnying in the parade ring and was also getting a little warm and the latter comment can also be applied to Majestic Max.

Mr Optimistic was slightly on his toes.

14:34 Joy for favourite backers in our opener but only just, as Where’s Romeo made all but had to battle hard to hold off the challenge of Extra Power.

Lexi’s Hero ran in second spot for most of the contest but was no match for the first two.

He just held off the late challenge of Imperialistic Diva to take third spot. Imperialistic Diva was slowly away and a little bit green in the early stages but ran on well in the closing stages.

14:44 Another five furlong contest for race two, the Paul MacLagan Belhaven’s Best Manager 2990 Handicap, pause for breath, in which nine face the starter.

The runners were very late coming into the ring. Patch Patch and Classlin were both on their toes, the former more so.

On the food note, we have been served a sausage casserole with spicy potato wedges.

14:49 Lieu Day Louie is being well backed 22/1 into 9/1

15:02 A great finish to our second contest and, excuse the vernacular, a stuffed odds-on favourite.

Classlin and the odds-on favourite Jigajig were to the fore, whilst top weigh Patch Patch had a terrible first furlong, taking a strong hold and veering to his right.

Jigajig went clear inside the final furlong but Patch Patch made up for his early poor running to hit the front and record a ¾ length victory.

Also doing well were Taborcillo and Classin who also both passed the favourite crossing the line together.

Indeed crossing the line so close that judge Fraser Perratt could not split them and called a dead heat.

The gambled on Lieu Day Louie was never sighted.

15:07 Another contest on the straight course as six go to post for the six furlong Johnston Oils – J Gas Ltd Handicap in which Cian Rooney is the non-runner.

Coin From Heaven is slightly on her toes in the parade ring.

Eternal Instinct is a very narrow filly and she seems on edge in the parade ring.

15:31 A really strange race with Godolphin’s Mutafajer getting an absolute flyer and being eight lengths clear by half way, however just as quickly as he pulled clear he dropped away, eventually coming home a tailed off last.

Coin From Heaven and Glen Shiel led the chasing bunch and when Mutafajer dropped out Glken Shiel took up the running.

Once in front Glen Shiel was never headed, coming home the 2¼ length winner.

Breathless Kiss ran on to take second place, with Eternal Instinct third.

Second favourite and weak in the betting, Coin From Heaven came home last of the main bunch.  

15:33 Onto the round course now for the Burns Festival Handicap a mile contest with seven runners, Casela Park does not go.

15:39 In the parade ring Barataria looks a little unfurnished in rear. Positive, in terms of looks, was Green Agenda.

16:02 The Prime Minister was the guest on Radio Four’s Today program this morning and he became the racing tipster when selecting Daring Dream for this race.

Perhaps ominously for him the Daring Dream only came second.

Barataria reared coming out of the stalls and missed the break as a result.

By contrast Justonefortheroad trapped brilliantly and led from the start.

One minute and forty seconds later he was still in front, crossing the line two lengths clear of his rivals, having never been headed.

Cara’s Request had been in second spot for most of the race but dropped back as they turned for home.

In truth it was a procession down the home straight with little change in the order as Daring Dream chased the leader and he, in turn, was pursued by the favourite Aldaado.  

16:08 Only five remain in the Access Plus Handicap, a 1¼ mile contest, following the defections of Bagber and Grand Diamond.

Slight negative in the ring is Shy Glance, a bit on his toes and swishing his tail.

16:32 Yet another all the way winner as Templetuohy Max wins, but he had to fight to take victory.

Not much action in the first half of the race as the field raced in Indian file.

Turning for home the two joint favourites were ahead with Templetuohy Max having a half-length advantage over Starla Dance who had run on to challenge.

Three out Templetuohy Max had the measure of Starla Dancer who was under pressure.

Two out Templetuohy Max was well clear but by the furlong pole he, himself, was coming under pressure as well.

Gary Bartley on Jewelled Dagger sensed blood and made a challenge and he was gaining on the long time leader as they approached the line.

Luckily the line came in time for Templetuohy Max as he held on by a diminishing half-length.
Starla Dancer held on for third. With Shy Glance fourth.

16:38 Back to the straight course for race six, The Victor Chandler Claiming stakes with 6 competing.

Saxford is going to the post early, being walked down slowly.

17:00 Abbondanza was the odds-on winner of this sprint for the Nicholls family, although he did not look that convincing and was under pressure a furlong out.

After the race had an odd start with nothing really keen to go on, Saxford took up the running after a furlong, holding on until two out, when Abbondanza took up the running.

However he wasn’t convincing in front and he looked to be there to be shot at.

Artsu and the running on Stellite both looked as though they could upset the odds but somehow Abbondanza held on to record a half-length victory.

17:09 Our finalé is The Up To £125 Free Bet At victorchandler.com Handicap Stakes over seven furlongs and our biggest field of the afternoon as 13 line up.

Obe One is the non-runner.

Jord and Brace Of Doves both carry 1lb overweight.

17:35 Drama before the start of our final race as Jord goes down in the stalls and is withdrawn.

In the race itself Whatyouwouldwishfor set the pace until headed inside the final furlong when the well backed Mr Lu (9/2 into 5/2) hit the front.   

Fifedom made good late progress to take the runners-up spot with King’s Jester back in third.

17:36 That’s it from Ayr, small fields and not exactly top draw racing. I have to say probably one of the most uninspiring cards I have seen for a long time, which may have come across in the reports - I see little point in getting excited by the bland.

From bonnie Scotland a very good evening.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

14:20
2 Ice Trooper (other - 09:57)

15:20
7 Cian Rooney (going - 08:36)

15:50
2 Casela Park (not eaten up - SC 14:00)

16:20
4 Bagber (knocked joint - 09:45)
7 Grand Diamond (knocked joint - 11:41)

17:20
13 Obe One (going - 10:24)

Results

14:20 Maiden Stakes 5f

14:50 Handicap 5f

15:20 Handicap 6f

15:50 Handicap 1m

16:20 Handicap 1m 2f

16:50 Claiming Stakes 6f

17:20 Handicap 7f 50yd