By Jack Milner
Scotland's month-long festival of racing continues with an eight-race card this afternoon at Ayr and Weld Al Khawaneej (1.40) likely to go close in the opener under Fergal Lynch. The Kevin Ryan yard boast an excellent record in the contest, winning the corresponding race last year with Dominic Cork, and the son of Fast Company should go close from a mark of 58. The selection showed little in a trio of maidens but was a massive eye-catcher on handicap debut last week at Redcar, when denied a clear run. He shaped as though a stiffer test should suit and he can make amends upped in trip.
Gordon Elliot's 8-y-o Broughtons Bandit (2.40) made a pleasing return to the flat last week at Lingfield and can land the stayers handicap under Tom Queally. The selection has won over both hurdles and fences this summer and, after chasing home an odds-on favourite of Sir Mark Prescott's last week on the all-weather, looks well-treated to go one better from an unrevised mark of 57.
A field of 13 go to post for the feature 6f Handicap and a chance taken on Michael Dods' Mass Rally (5.00) under Paul Mulrennan. The selection has tumbled down the weights this term but ran with promise last time out in the Silver Cup here at the track when drawn on the wrong side of the track. The last time the 8-y-o was running from a mark of 90 he was second in a Heritage Handicap at Ascot and providing he still has that old sparkle he must go close, stepped up in trip tackling 7f for the first time in over 5 years!
Donald McCain's runners seem to have turned the corner and that bodes well for The Backup Plan (3.05) who can follow-up last month's course and distance success at Sedgefield. The selection improved on all three starts over fences, and came good at the third attempt when bolting-up from a career-low mark of 95. The handicapper has raised him 9lb for that win but he remains unexposed and is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to his five rivals under Brian Harding.
The pair can double-up with Short Takes (4.15) in the Novices' Handicap Chase over an extended two miles. The selection scored at the track last summer over hurdles but should prove even better over the larger obstacles and looks to have been well-placed to make a winning debut over fences.
David Pipe's Fishy Story (4.50) should have made a winning debut earlier this month at Fontwell, but threw the race away due to greenness in the closing stages and can make amends in the closing bumper. The yard won corresponding contest last term with another smart type and with a run under her belt Fishy Story can continue Pipe's excellent record in the contest.
There's further jump racing from Southwell where Kayla (5.10) is a confident selection to land the Mares' Novices' Hurdle under Paddy Brennan. She was progressive in bumpers earlier in the year and came good at the third time of asking when scoring at Towcester in April. The selection made a pleasing debut over timber earlier this month at Worcester when unfortunate to bump into one and trainer Stuart Edmonds looks to have been found an excellent opportunity for her to shed the maiden tag at the likely expense of Robert Stephens' Tir Dubh.
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