Frank Hickey’s ITV Racing Tips
13:15 Ayr – Tommys Oscar (each-way)
13:30 Newbury – Chesspiece (each-way)
13:50 Ayr – Deeper Blue
14:05 Newbury – Folgaria
14:25 Ayr – Bialystok (each-way)
14:40 Newbury – Zoum Zoum / Son (each-way)
15:00 Ayr – Coco Mademoiselle / Ottizzini (each-way)
15:15 Newbury – Thunder Ball (each-way)
15:35 Ayr – Inis Oirr
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Ayr 13:15 – Tommys Oscar (each-way)
TOMMYS OSCAR would be a tentative pick for interest if nothing else. A very trappy contest where last week’s Aintree winner Sans Bruit – who has a 10lb rise to contend with – could be taken on for the lead by Traprain Law and Pembroke. That might upset him.
13:30 Newbury – Chesspiece (each-way)
One who could be a bit of value is CHESSPIECE although he’s a tentative pick at the prices more than anything. A few of the Gosden runners are taking a run to hit their stride and I’m not keen to go with him at a short price.
13:50 Ayr – Deeper Blue
I fancy DEEPER BLUE – mainly based on Harry Fry’s stable form. He’s four winners from seven runners this month and you get the feeling there’s more to come after a very quiet March. Deeper Blue has finished second twice in his last three starts and has some good back form. He’s unexposed at this 3m trip so I’ll side with him.
14:05 Newbury – Folgaria
The 7F Duty Free Stakes features the unbeaten FOLGARIA and while it’s hard to translate the Italian form she looks worth taking a chance on at the prices. One I’m definitely against is Relief Rally at the likely prices and you’ll have to take the trainer’s form on trust.
14:25 Ayr – Bialystok (each-way)
Willie Mullins has declared three here in his quest for the UK Trainers’ Championship title and BIALYSTOK interests me as an each-way play if he stays around the 7/1 mark. If he were to collapse in the market though I’d leave it be. You can make a case for a few in this Scottish Champion Hurdle including Nicky Henderson’s First Street who can be competitive off a mark of 143. Salsada and Florida Dreams will have their chance if the ground continues to dry out.
14:40 Newbury – Zoum Zoum /Son (each-way)
The Group Three Greenham Stakes feature the unbeaten Zoum Zoum for the Ralph Beckett yard and he looks the one to beat. One I give an each-way chance to at a price is Richard Hannon’s SON. He won his maiden at this course on faster ground and was a ten-length fifth to City Of Troy in the Superlative Stakes. His form is decent enough and not reflected in his price.
15:00 Ayr – Coco Mademoiselle / Ottizzini (each-way)
OTTIZZINI appeals as an each-way play over this trip. Team Closutton has another three runners declared and the double digits about A Penny A Hundred have disappeared since Paul Townend was declared to ride her. She doesn’t look ‘thrown in’ off a mark of 133 to me though.
However, Dan Skelton’s Coco Mademoiselle has a very workable mark of 121 and should stay this 3m trip as she’s a former point-to-point winner. An easy winner at Chepstow last time, she can go close again.
15:15 Newbury – Thunder Ball (each-way)
The Spring Cup Handicap over the mile is as competitive as always and THUNDER BALL should improve from his seventh-place finish in the Lincoln. He looked like he needed the run that day and weakened when he hit the front two out. That run can be upgraded, he won his novice at Newbury, and the Cole stable has been among the winners.
15:35 Ayr – Inis Oirr
I’ve come down on the side of INIS OIRR who will appreciate drying ground and gets in off a light weight having put up a demolition job in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh despite a 14lb rise. The feature race of the day is the Scottish National and if Mullins wins this it will go a very long way to securing a first UK Trainers’ title. Git Maker has an obvious chance on his Kim Muir second to Inothewayurthinkin who subsequently won a Grade One at Aintree. His price is reflective of that though. While Macdermott did it well at Naas he got 16lbs for that win and Paul Townend has opted to ride Spanish Harlem. The top-weight Stay Away Fay will relish the stamina test over four miles but has to concede plenty of weight to his rivals.
Frank Hickey’s ITV Racing Tips
13:15 Ayr – Tommys Oscar (each-way)
13:30 Newbury – Chesspiece (each-way)
13:50 Ayr – Deeper Blue
14:05 Newbury – Folgaria
14:25 Ayr – Bialystok (each-way)
14:40 Newbury – Zoum Zoum / Son (each-way)
15:00 Ayr – Coco Mademoiselle / Ottizzini (each-way)
15:15 Newbury – Thunder Ball
15:35 Ayr – Inis Oirr
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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