_edited.png)
14:30 Ayr
We begin Sunday’s preview north of the border with a class six handicap over ten furlongs. Likely favourite Mysterial showed his battling qualities when last seen at Newcastle, attempting to make all before being headed in the final furlong, only to find a bit extra to post a half-length win. He has now won his last two over todays’ trip and has only been raised 2lbs for his latest victory so should be capable of bringing up his hat-trick today.
Heavenly River was a fast finishing third in the aforementioned race at Newcastle and, although is yet to win in three attempts over ten furlongs, his latest effort showed vast improvement on previous efforts and with Silvestre De Sousa taking over in the saddle he rates as the main danger.
Iftikaar also enters calculations after a commanding three and three quarter length victory on his first attempt over todays’ trip, although that was on soft ground in November 2014 and he hasn’t been seen since.
Mysterial (WIN)
17:00 Market Rasen
We take in some summer jumps for our second preview, a class four conditional jockeys handicap. Thinger Licht looks likely to go off a short priced favourite and with two impressive wins and a close second in his last three runs over fences it’s easy to see why he would be popular with punters. He reverts to hurdles for today’s race and despite the change to smaller obstacles he looks a worthy favourite, although at forecast odds approaching evens he represents little value so is passed over today.
Hawdyerwheesht may not be the most prolific of winners but is proven over todays’ trip and has a strike rate of almost 65% for top three finishes over hurdles. With a current field of nine and forecast odds of 6/1 he represents better value in my eyes and thus is the selection here.
Of the remainder, Lucky Landing is a previous course winner and, although hasn’t won over hurdles since 2013 he won over fences on his penultimate start, while Cut The Corner has been consistent so far this season with a win and two seconds from four runs.
Hawdyerwheesht (E/W if 9/2+)
17:15 Ayr
We return to Ayr for our final preview and hope to see Red Invader notch up a hat-trick of wins. The selection has won on both the all-weather and on turf and has a 75% win rate over the minimum trip. He was a one length winner last time out and the fifth from that race has gone on to win since so the form has started to work out well.
Pabusar has won two from his last four so is obviously in decent shape at the moment and has to be considered, although an overall poor record of just three wins in over fifty attempts suggests he is unlikely to follow up today.
Ya Boy Sir returned from a three and a half year absence as a 50/1 winner over todays’ trip at Hamilton last month. He couldn’t back that up next time out but that was on softer ground so a return to the forecast good ground could see him challenge again.
Red Invader (WIN)