After going over 25pts in profit over the Aintree Grand National Festival, Jake Price is back with three tips for Friday at Ayr.
Quarry Handicap Chase
15:30 Ayr
There looks to be a decent enough pace on here with Donnacha, Califet En Vol, Twinjets and Myretown all engaged, and therefore there is every chance that this race could set up perfectly for HOE JOLY SMOKE, who is a very talented animal but can sometimes be quite tricky to get the job done with.
This horse has teased many a punter in the past, not seeing out 3m1f at Cheltenham in October when finishing third, and then finishing extremely well over 2m4f at Cheltenham in November when a very good third behind stablemate Panic Attack (147) in the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase. What I believe this horse needs is a good pace to aim at with one run, and Harry Skelton will surely be able to do that considering the aforementioned pace, and this 2m4½f trip at Ayr on some softer than usual ground should also help.
What’s more is that he has also undergone wind surgery since last seen when finishing sixth in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton, and that might just be the ailment he needs in order to get his head back in front. A 1lb lower mark of 130 is clearly within his reach, and Dan Skelton often targets this race – winning 5 of the last 9 renewals.
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Coral Handicap Hurdle
16:05 Ayr
One of the Horses this season that I have most enjoyed following is CAME FROM NOWHERE, and with the rain that has arrived in Ayr this week, connections have been treated to some lovely ground to run him back in handicap company to conclude a very successful campaign.
His extremely impressive victory at Ascot off a mark of 124 was followed by a wind operation due to Lorcan Williams hearing a noise in that victory, and Jeremy Scott had prepared him for the Cheltenham Festival before the ground ended up being too quick. Connections wanted to get a run into him however, so he ended up going to Newbury on the 20th March, where he once again travelled all over his rivals - but this time he made a mistake at the last and allowed the stronger stayed La Frimeur (128) to grind out a narrow victory.
Once again he was ready to run in a Grade 1 at the Aintree Festival before the ground came up too quick, but with all the rain we have had and are yet to have up at Ayr, connections will be licking their lips at the prospect of running him back in a 2m5½f Handicap Hurdle off a mark of 132. I don't think this is the strongest Class 2 race either so he has to have top claims, with the only slight concern for me being the current form of the yard.
Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap Hurdle
16:43 Ayr
A horse who went straight into my notebook following his performance at Newbury on William Hill Hurdle day was ALENTEJO, and he has a very unexposed profile in Britain which looks ripe for exploiting at Ayr on Friday, especially as there is a bit of cut in the ground which he will enjoy.
This 7yo joined Nicky Henderson from France, where he won twice at Auteuil and was able to place at both Listed and Grade 3 level. After a 462-day absence he finally returned to the track at Ffos Las in January where connections sent him straight over fences, but he seemed to hate that whole ordeal when not jumping well, and in the end he was pulled up before the third last.
Sensibly Nicky Henderson decided to immediately draw stumps on that career over fences, and instead they sent him to a 3m½f Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. That run was actually his second following a wind operation, and this time he shaped a lot better. He was always up in the van racing prominently, but unlike his contender Kyntara (PU), Might I (beaten 59 lengths) and Goshhowposh (PU), he was able to maintain his position at the business end of the race.
He travelled just as well as the eventual winner A Pai De Nom (134) into the contest, but after being headed under pressure I loved the way that he battled back from third place to regain second – eventually beating Below The Radar (122) by 8.5 lengths, whilst chasing the Skelton short-priced favourite all the way to the line when only beaten 5 lengths. What’s more is that the vet reported he had struck into his left-fore leg and lost his left-fore shoe during the run too, so you can mark-up that performance.
He’s not been seen on track since presumably to get over that cut, but off an unchanged mark of 118 there simply has to be a race in ALENTEJO. This 3m½f Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on Soft ground looks as good an opportunity as any, and with the Henderson stable in good form, he looks the perfect each/way play.
