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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.

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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.

Clerk of the course Anthea Morshead called the inspection after a severe overnight frost was forecast at the Ayrshire track with temperatures dropping as low as –5C. This would make racing doubtful on the course where the going is currently soft, good to soft in places.

But chances of racing on Saturday are much better with only a slight overnight frost predicted with temperatures rising to around 7C on Saturday morning.

Anthea Morshead said : “We could struggle for Friday if the forecast is accurate. But we will hold the early morning inspection to give ourselves every chance. Prospects on Saturday are brighter though and I would be more than hopeful of racing then.”

There is a total prize fund of £128,000 up for grabs at Ayr over the two day meeting with the feature race today, the £20,000 Valentines Handicap Chase over two miles four furlongs at 3.45pm. Six are entered here including Peter Beaumont’s Flight Command with Tony Ross riding; the Lucinda Russell trained Master Sebastian (Peter Buchanan) and Nicky Richards Big-and-Bold (Tony Dobbin).

A new sponsor takes a bow when Maserati Chaffeur Drive of Glasgow sponsor the £10,000 Maserati Chauffeur Drive Novice Hurdle over two miles. Tony Dobbin takes the mount on Lenny Lungo’s Troll while Mark Bradburne keeps the ride on Auenmoon runner up here last month for Peter Monteith.

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 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.