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Early Morning Inspection for Ayr 09/02/06
AN inspection at 6.45am tomorrow (Friday) will decide if the first of a two day jumps meeting at Ayr goes ahead. [more]

Quality Entries For Ayr's Valentine Meeting
07/02/06

TOP jumps racing takes place at Ayr on Friday and Saturday this week with plenty of prizemoney - £128,000 to be exact – up for grabs.

And the star attraction on Saturday could Nicky Richards highly rated Monet’s Garden which is likely to line up in the Lloyds TSB Scotland Novice Chase over two miles four furlongs.

The grey was expected to be heading to Cheltenham next month but now connections are favouring a tilt at a race at Aintree and Saturday’s outing should provide a good pointer.

The most expensive race on Friday is the £20,000 Valentines Handicap Chase over two miles four furlongs at 3.45pm and entries for this include Peter Beaumont’s Flight Command with Russ Garrity riding; the Lucinda Russell trained Master Sebastian (Peter Buchanan) and Richard Guest’s Our Armaggedon (Larry McGrath).

A new sponsor takes a bow on Friday when Maserati Chaffeur Drive of Glasgow sponsor the £10,000 Maserati Chauffeur Drive Novice Hurdle over two miles. Top trainer-jockey combination Howard Johnson and Graham Lee team up on Estepona here while Ian Semple’s flat winner Cherished Number is an interesting runner in the hands of Dominic Elsworth.

Lloyds TSB sponsor the entire card on Saturday and the feature race is the £20,000 Lloyds TSB Scotland Scottish Racing Handicap Chase over three miles one furlong. Irish trained Another Rum, a Cheltenham winner last year, is entered along with Lenny Lungo’s The Bajan Bandit which will have the assistance of Tony Dobbin.

The Lloyds TSB Scotland Novice Chase over two miles four furlongs has many top young chasers on show including the aforementioned Monet’s Garden;Wild Cane Ridge from the Lungo yard; Howard Johnson’s Coat of Honour and the recent dual winner Oliverjohn from the Lucinda Russell yard.

The meeting will have a Valentine’s Day theme with more than a little love in the air. The first person on the day to propose to his or her sweetheart will be given a Stag or Hen night at Ayr completely free of charge.

That will include entrance to a raceday, meals and drinks for up to 10 people and the lucky winner can have a stag party, hen party or combined stag and hen party. All he or she has to do is head to the paddock and propose over the PA system at the course. Red roses will also be gifted on both days to some lucky ladies.

First race on Friday is at 2.10pm with the action kicking off at 1.45pm on Saturday.

Clerk of the course Anthea Morshead reports the course is riding good to soft, soft in places.

Advance bookings can be made online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or by calling 0870-8505666.