Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Ayr

Leg 1 Selections: Elixir De Nutz, Malystic, Return Ticket

Frere D’armes is plenty short enough for leg one, which is the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase, and I am keen to oppose him after being turned away by Black Gerry last-time-out. 

This is a much tougher race and I’ll take a chance on ELIXIR DE NUTZ, who is a former Grade 1 and ran below form when down the field in the Grand Annual for the second year in succession. 

He might be allowed to dictate the pace here and, having split Funambule Sivola (OR 157) and Greaneteen (OR 169) in the Grade 2 Game Spirit, he has a chance from a mark 146 in this easier race. 

I will also recommend including last year’s first and second, RETURN TICKET and MALYSTIC, who both served up a grandstand finish that day. Their knowledge of the course earns them an inclusion on the shortlist.  

Leg 2 Selections: Sail Away, City Chief

I am optimistic about the chances of SAIL AWAY in leg two, the CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase, who had the option of tackling the Scottish Grand National but connections must feel as though this is more winnable. 

He is very light on racing for Dan Skelton, with only eight runs in two years, so there’s a chance we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He has made the frame in all three starts over three miles as well and ran well on his return. 

He was conceding weight and fitness to Jetoile at Chepstow over a trip too short but stuck to the task well once headed to only be beaten three lengths and that reappearance should have teed him up perfectly for this assignment. 

CITY CHIEF won at this meeting last year over hurdles and has won both his recent two chase starts, including a Grade 2 last time. His connections won this race last year, so there’s a lot to like on paper and he should be competitive. 

Leg 3 Selections: Colonel Mustard, L’eau Du Sud

The fact that connections bypassed this year’s Cheltenham Festival with COLONEL MUSTARD could pay dividends in leg three, the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

He placed in Grade 1 company in 2021 and has produced some really smart performances in defeat since, including a two length second to Jonbon in a Grade 2, as well as a good third in last year’s County Hurdle to State Man. 

He couldn’t succeed in either of his two chase starts earlier this season but ran a cracker back over hurdles when second in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, where he travelled well and might have won but for being impeded before the second last hurdle. 

Benson flew home to take the spoils but he lost nothing in defeat in second and the handicapper has only raised his mark three pounds. He has deliberately been kept fresh for this and must have a chance. I cannot see him out of the frame. 

L’EAU DU SUD has improved with each start and wasn’t far behind Colonel Mustard in the Morebattle Hurdle last time when third. His trainer won this in 2016 and this unexposed five-year-old remains on the same mark as last time.

With more to offer, after just three starts in Britain, it would be surprising if he weren’t in the shake-up with plenty of improvement to come. I think he has strong place claims at the very least and is better off at the weights with Colonel Mustard as well. 

Soaring Glory and Milkwood cannot be fancied after running below form the last two times, while plenty of the remainder need improvement off their revised marks. 

Leg 4 Selections: Unexpected Party, Thunder Rock

For leg four, we have the Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices' Chase and I am quite hopeful UNEXPECTED PARTY will finish in front of Balco Coastal again after finishing a solid fifth in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. 

It favoured to be up with the pace in that race, so he did well to not be beaten all that far in fifth when Balco Coastal was two places behind in seventh. He is steadily improving over fences and this course should suit him better, so he is fancied to come good in this Grade 2 event with more to offer. 

THUNDER ROCK didn’t run badly at all when sixth in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and the form of his third place efforts behind Gerri Colombe and The Real Whacker read well in the context of this race. Olly Murphy’s charge won his only previous visit to this course and he warrants respect. Datsalrightgino is worth opposing after a poor display in the Plate. 

Leg 5 Selections: Empire Steel, Undersupervision, Flash Collonges

The Scottish Grand National is the feature, which is leg five, and EMPIRE STEEL arrives into the race on the back of a career-best performance when winning the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso, which is the perfect sort of trial for this event. 

He would prefer softer ground but I think the marathon distance will bring about improvement and he is back in a handicap off a fair mark of 145. I think he has an excellent chance, while UNDERSUPERVISION appears to be crying out for a step up in trip and went close to winning the Grimthorpe at Doncaster for the second heat in a row last time. 

He fell through no fault of his own in the SkyBet Chase, where he was staying on in about fourth place before being hampered by the faller at the second last fence. He is a tough and hardy horse, who should be suited to this race and his jockey has won this twice before, whilst his trainer has won this three times in the past. 

Paul Nicholls also has a good record in the race and he has a good chance with FLASH COLLONGES, who opened his account over fences in good style at Newbury and has gradually found his stride the more experience he has been getting over fences. 

He should be suited by an extreme test of stamina given he is related to Grand National winner Neptune Collonges and the larger-field event won’t faze him either (won his only previous start in a field of 10 runners or more), so the fact he lines up in this off a nice weight and mark makes him of serious interest. 

Leg 6 Selections: J’Ai Froid, Kihavah

J’AI FROID didn’t really show much after a year on the sidelines at Ascot but he progressed nicely over hurdles earlier in his career and was second in a Grade 3 in this month two years ago off a mark of 143. He is down to 134 and Lewis Dobb takes off a further seven pounds. He might get an uncontested lead and, if doing so, he could outrun his odds and make the frame. 

KIHAVAH needs to prove his stamina for this distance but he has some strong form in the locker and ran well back over hurdles two starts ago at Musselburgh in this grade off this exact mark. He stayed on well in the closing stages that day and warmed up for this with a spin on the Flat at Newcastle.

The last time he won over hurdles, he beat the 139-rated Since Day One, so he is very well-handicapped and conditions will be perfect for him as well. This six-year-old is much more reliable than Uhtred, so he should go close with plenty in his favour.