Ayr Sat 13th

[diamond1924]

Ayr to inspect again at 830am. Was looking forward to this meeting. As biased as always, I think my favourite jockey - Graham Lee, had a pretty decent book of rides today if the meeting goes ahead. The two Trevor Hemmings runners, Ballabriggs in the 2.40 3m1f Victor Chandler Chase, and Charingworth in the 425 2m chase both have serious chances but I'd be expecting Nicky Richards' Skippers Brig and Jim Goldie's Craiglands should be thereabouts serving it up to Ballabriggs in the big race. Charingworth is Graham's pick of the two Ferdy Murphy horses but he'll not have it totally his own way with Jim Goldie's Storming Exit a recent winner at Newcastle in good form too. I like Lee's chances too on the Pauline Robson / RA Green horse - Fiftyfive degrees in the 315pm 2m4f chase. LTO over he weakened when leading 3f out in a 3mchase, dropped 2lbs today over half of a mile shorter, he's had his best two runs under Graham Lee. In the lucky last he's on the favourite too on the pick of the Todhunter horses High Stand Lad. Second last time out to Grandad Bill at Newcastle, Grandad Bill franked that form last weekend when running creditably when fourth to Eradicate at Musselburgh in a race two grades higher than this one. I wouldn't write him off on Irish trainer J Larkin's Olefin D'Oudaries. He won last time out at Ayr in December, albeit he's up 7lb for that win, albeit, the second that day, Jamie Ewart's Time Out, has a big swing in the weights this time that may tip the scales in his favour.

[mowgli77]

Re: Ayr Sat 13th Ballabriggs 2.40 Ayr (10/3 Skybet) I put this up last time out and mentioned it could be potentially a graded horse. It has been raised 11lb since that last win but could still be progressive enough to shrug off the hike in ratings. Won by 9 lengths last time and was eased and that was on soft ground and generally jumped well throughout the race. Skippers Brig drops from Grade 3 to Class 2 today and I can see Ballabriggs going the other way, winning this class 2 and then stepping up into graded company. No concerns regarding trip, ground should be fine, jockey and trainer both in form.