A frustrating day yesterday. Jachol ran well enough to finish 3rd, and Lordship really should have done better than his 3rd place. On a day when it was tough to come from too far back at Ayr, his jockey has to take the blame for getting him too far out the back. He finished with a wet sail, but left it too late. Let’s hope for better luck today on what are likely to be similarly tough conditions.

Today’s bets:

2.40 - Ayr:
John Forbes - 3 pts win. Available at 4/1 (General) 1st 5/2 ;D
No Wonga - 0.5 pts e/w. Available at 16/1 (General) 3rd 16/1 ;D
Several here who have proven themselves in this sort of ground but John Forbes should go close if he has got over his exertions at Hamilton three days ago. He has gone well after such a break in the past and connections are obviously keen to make use of his preference for testing conditions. He stays further than this so stamina will not be an issue and his five pound claimer has been on board for two of his last three races. He is tactically versatile and is quite capable of front running if the rest don't get on with it. No Wonga returns from almost a year off the track so fitness could be an issue. However he is open to more improvement than most of these and with the yard in good form he could run a big race. His best effort came when last seen over 11 furlongs in soft ground at Hamilton and he suggested there that a stiffer test could suit. The Trainer does quite well at this track.

2.50 - Lingfield - Swift Chap – 1 pt e/w. Available at 9/1 (General)
Hawks Eye loks the one to beat but Swift Chap looked a bit unlucky not to get closer to the winner last time out and that came on the back of performances which suggested he could be coming to hand. This is only his second attempt at ten furlongs and he is well weighted, being eight pounds below his mark at the start of the season.The return to faster ground shouldn't pose a problem and form at Goodwood and Warwick suggest the demands of this track should suit. Stable send just the one to a track where they have a decent strike rate, although their lack of recent winners is a slight concern.

4.10 - Ayr - Calypso Girl - 1 pt e/w. Available at 12/1 (General)
A filly that hasn't placed in her last 14 races can be considered a very speculative wager, especially considering she hasn't proved conclusively that she has trained on. However she has been set some stiff tasks in her time and her best performances in her Juvenile campaign came in testing ground. Shge hasn't those conditions since finishing 6/19 in a valuable Sales race in Ireland this time last year. Since then her mark has plummeted from 78 down to 55. She may not be capable of producing anywhere near that initial level of form but she looks worth risking form this low in the handicap under conditions which suit. Jockey who rode in her three of her first four races returns for the first time since.

4.40 - Ayr:
Raptor - 2 pts win. Available at 11/2 (Bet365)
Magic Echo - 0.5 pts e/w. Available at 20/1 (Sportingbet)