Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Ayr

Leg 1 Selections: Shelikesthelights, Carole’s Pass, First Impression

SHELIKESTHELIGHTS has improved over hurdles for this stable and opened her account in a mares' maiden at Doncaster prior to making an easy success on handicap debut at Southwell. 

She shoulders a penalty here but holds leading claims, while CAROLE’S PASS should come forward from her return in France and is applied with first-time cheekpieces plus she looks well treated off this mark. 

FIRST IMPRESSION won on his last start over hurdles and could make the frame in the opener despite his big weight. Henry Brooke is a positive jockey booking as well. 

Leg 2 Selections: Prairie Wolf, Young Buster

This is really competitive with plenty in with a chance but PRAIRIE WOLF has improved out of the blue since cheekpieces have been added, recording a win and three seconds from his last four starts. He was only beaten half-a-length in this grade at Kelso last time and, if he can stay the extra distance, he should be competitive. 

YOUNG BUSTER has advanced his form since a breathing operation and returned a comfortable winner from the front last month. He should be even more effective over this longer distance and an opening mark of 113 is very fair, so he could be hard to beat with improvement a distinct possibility after just three starts. 

Leg 3 Selections: Hugos New Horse, Idalko Bihoue

HUGOS NEW HORSE was off the bridle a long way out at Newbury last time but stuck to his guns to be nearest the finish in third and I assume he will be ridden positively here as he stays a lot further. He won four on the spin before that latest place effort and should again go very well ease in grade for the champion trainer. 

IDALKO BIHOUE has been largely disappointing the last two times but he is still the highest rated horse in the field courtesy of his third in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and this should reveal more now dropped in distance, which is a good move. He appeals as the type who won’t lie down for long and could bounce back to form in a race where any of the quintet can win. 

Leg 4 Selections: Bass Rock, Christopher Wood

BASS ROCK ran poorly when last of four here last time but he is better than that and the form of his Carlisle success reads well. His connections are in better form now, so he is worth another chance from a mark he is probably capable of defying should he leave his latest run behind him. 

CRISTOPHER WOOD has done little wrong in chasing home two decent horses the last two times and an opening handicap chase mark of 132 is well within his compass given he was rated as high as 150 over hurdles. He will appreciate the return to a longer trip and Venetia Williams charge has the ability to win a race of this calibre. 

Leg 5 Selections: Sabrina, Charm Offensive

SABRINA had a rare off-day at Chepstow in December but otherwise her form has been really consistent this season and she ran very well in this month last year when third in a Grade 2 event. She chased home the useful Walking On Air over this trip two starts ago and a mark of 119 is fair, so Paul Nicholls mare has place possibilities in yet another wide-open race. 

CHARM OFFENSIVE has a good record at this course over this trip which reads 2121 and she ran well at Kelso last time when second. She hasn’t been out of the first two in all of her last five starts and this course brings out the best in her, so this course specialist is greatly respected with Bruce Lynn claiming his three pounds. 

Leg 6 Selections: Escapeandevade, Champ De Gane

ESCAPEANDEVADE could only manage a remote fourth at Haydock last time but he is two-from-two at this course and has battered his opponents easily in both those wins. He has the burden of top-weight but James Ewart’s charge likes this venue and can’t be ruled out. 

CHAMP DE GANE would have won easily over course-and-distance last month but for falling at the last when well clear. He wasn’t in the same form at Carlisle last time but returning to a left-handed venue will suit and Daryl Jacob is riding really well of late. His mount has plenty more to come and could make amends with a clear round.