Steve Ryder selects four betting tips for Monday's racing cards at Ayr.
3:15 AyrSee All Odds
TIP 1: NATIVE HONEY - 0.5pt EW
Best odds of 5/1 at bet365 while publishing.
Imperial Guard is a worthy favourite under a 5lb penalty but now steps up in grade from a Class 6 0-60 handicap in to this Class 4 0-80 handicap. Preference instead goes to NATIVE HONEY (best priced at 5/1) who is unbeaten in his three starts over this course and distance. The Jim Goldie trained four-year-old capitalised from a drop in grade to get back to winning ways last time when the reopposing Abduction was back in third, beaten a length.
Native Honey has been nudged back up 2lbs and goes back up in grade but is rock solid and looks sure to be involved in the finish.
3:45 AyrSee All Odds
TIP 2: RUNNINSONOFAGUN - 1pt
Best odds of 5/6 at Betfred while publishing.
There is a distinct lack of pace in this race and that will suit proven front runner RUNNINSONOFAGUN (best priced at 13/8). The Tristan Davidson trained gelding won over this course and distance in first-time cheekpieces a fortnight ago by lengths when making all off a mark of 60. He then finished 3rd last time under a 5lb penalty when taken on for the lead but showed a good attitude to finish beaten only a length at the finish when the reopposing Mayor Of Maghera was further back in 7th.
Runninsonofagun should get an easy lead, runs here off the same mark and looks the one to beat.
4:15 AyrSee All Odds
TIP 3: PEARL EYE - 1pt
Best odds of 11/4 at bet365 while publishing.
Empirical will no doubt prove popular to punters again having won last time by eight lengths but he now races from a 10lb higher mark in a much better race. The solid each way alternative is PEARL EYE (best priced at 11/4) who is unbeaten in his two starts under Paul Mulrennan. The six-year-old beat Obito at Hamilton a month ago when ridden by Paul Mulrennan for the first time before running well at York on his next two starts under claiming jockeys.
Pearl Eye won over this course and distance a fortnight ago when Paul Mulrennan was back on board beating Polygram by ½ length. That rival boosted the form winning yesterday at Pontefract off a 1lb higher mark and the pair pulled 5 ½ lengths clear of the third. He is up 2lbs but has a solid profile and can hopefully make it 3/3 under Paul Mulrennan.
4:45 AyrSee All Odds
TIP 4: ROYAL DUKE - 0.5pt EW
Best odds of 10/1 at William Hill at the time of publishing.
Trainer Mike Smith has won this race three of the previous four years including last season with ROYAL DUKE (best priced at 10/1). The five-year-old was an impressive 3 ½ length winner of this contest last season off a mark of 46 before finishing 2nd off a mark of 55 and winning at Musselburgh off a mark of 57. He hasn’t won since but as a result has dropped back down to a mark of 48.
Royal Duke was a well backed 5/2 shot over 6f here last time when fitted with first-time cheekpieces but he raced too keenly and weakened late on. This drop back to 5f will suit and he can hopefully repeat his win in this from last year.
