johnqclark

On what could be a Willie Mullins masterclass on Friday Mister Policeman could get him started in this novice handicap. The selection has been brought along steadily with this valuable race presumably the main aim. He's only six, has a very impressive strike rate both over hurdles and chases and looks the potential class act. I usually favour the top weight in this kind of race as they generally run up to form.

A cursory glance at this race could leave the impression that it's nothing more than a low grade sprint handicap for ordinary sorts. I think there might be one or two in here who will progress over the season so it might be worth looking at it quite closely. Keldeo showed some promise at two, especially when first winning and then finishing third at Beverley last summer. She boiled over in the paddock at Catterick on her final race of the season and that run can be ignored. She finished last at Newcastle on seasonal debut but was only beaten five lengths after being quite keen. Ollie Pears has had quite a slow start to his season, probably down to the soft ground that's been on offer, but has picked up lately. He does well when he sends his horses to Musselburgh and I think Keldao will run a much better race than her odds suggest.

This is a tight looking Listed race and I'm taking a chance on the Andrew Balding trained Sayedaty Sadaty who was a good second in a Newcastle Listed event at the end of March. The winner hasn't really franked the form but he has been running in better class races than this. Sayedaty Sadaty showed a very willing attitude that day and could shake up the shorter priced runners.

I'm not generally keen on backing short price favourites in handicaps like this but this looks like a Willie Mullins special. Captain Cody has been sparingly campaigned probably with a view to this race. His form is very strong including at graded level. As long as he handles the hustle and bustle of this big field I think he will win with something in hand.

Tim Easterby has had a flying start to the season and Showalong looks like a very possible winner in this handicap. Showalong has decent form in higher class races and he is very well suited to soft or heavy ground. The conditions look absolutely spot on and I expect Showalong to defy top weight against inferior rivals.

Idas Boy is a very unexposed chaser given he's ten years old. He won here earlier in the season and fell on his only other appearance on track this season. I don't think this is the best handicap chase ever run at a festival and Noel Meade may have found a very good opportunity for Idas Boy.

Jane Chapple-Hyam has her string well forward and El Bodon proved that by finishing a very good second in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. The stiff six furlongs at Ascot should be just what the doctor ordered and his assured fitness can only be an advantage.

The Gosden team have started to get winners in the last week which gives some added confidence in Sweet William. He made some good strides last year and looks the sort to improve again this season. There are questions surrounding most of the others which encourages me even more to have a bet on Sweet William.

Monty's Star as the best form here in my view which should be good enough to take this hot chase. He hasn't raced since Cheltenham so should be fresh enough to deliver his best.

The manner in which this improving six year-old won at Ludlow was extremely eye-catching despite a bad blunder at the last. He was far less impressive at Fontwell a week later but that may have come too soon after the Ludlow race. I guess the obvious negative is the jockey who clearly isn't as good as the professionals but he has surprised us a few times. You have to go each way given the hugely competitive nature of the handicap.

Not a great card at Ayr to open their flat season but Classy Al could be the one to deliver a profit. He's not particularly classy despite his name but has won over course and distance before. He made his seasonal debut at Musselburgh just over a week ago and was a creditable third over an inadequate trip. He should strip 100% fit here and can do the business.

Califet En Vol cost a fair bit after one run in a Point in Ireland. Nicky Henderson has won this bumper before and, given the owners of this one, he may have been specifically asked to have Califet En Vol trained to the moment for this day.

Neither of the two Mullins runners in this race will have been targeted for it but are directed here because of the ongoing trainer's championship battle. For that reason I'm inclined to leave them and side with the Gordon Elliott trained Twoohthree. He's only had two runs over hurdles and has shown a smart level of form which I think he can build on here. The trainer showed he was in better form with his runners at Aintree last week and at the price this one looks a decent bet.

The Champion Trainer should keep his chances of retaining the title by winning this. Welcom To Cartries finished second in the River Don last time which seems to me to indicate he has plenty of potential. Assuming his jumping stands up he can go very close.

This looks a very good renewal of Scotland's biggest jumps race. From the many with sound chances I fancy Autonomous Cloud to land the spoils at a big price. He is fairly lightly raced but gave a clear indication in the Midlands National last time that this trip on decent ground wouldn't be beyond him. Fergal O'Brien has been in good form of late and the McNeil family, who own the pick, would dearly love to win their homeland's most famous chase.

Paul Nicholls usually targets a few at this meeting and his failure to strike on Friday will have been a disappointment. Larchmont Lass hasn't been overly tried this season probably with a view to land a decent prize like this. He looks to me to be running off a very generous rating and I think we'll see a good run.

As long as the ground is continuing to dry out this looks like a great opportunity for Whodini to get back to winning ways. He's generally a pretty sound jumper and won at the Scottish National fixture last year. He showed he was almost ready to win when running well last time so hopefully he can build on that.

Dan Skelton as been farming some of the best handicap hurdles recently and L'eau Du Sud appears to have been aimed at this valuable race following two seconds in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the County Hurdle at the Festival. The ground is definitely going to be better than his most recent races and that won't be a disadvantage. The race is confused by the presence of three Mullins hurdlers and hopefully one of them at least might get backed and the selection might drift a little.

Here's a tough looking novice chase with quite a few likely to improve further in time. Deeper Blue has been running well without hitting the back of the net however his trainer, Harry Fry, has hit top form this week. The trip looks ideal and a bold show assured.

This is a tremendous card at Ayr and this opening race could be one of the spectacles of the day. They look sure to go at a cracking pace here and on the drying ground we could see some spectacular jumping. Traprain Law has looked quite smart in his limited opportunities so far this season. He's highly regarded by the trainer and his owner, Ray Anderson Green, likes nothing better than getting a winner at this meeting. He's a very promising sort.

It's only just over 18 months since Sound Of Iona was racing off a mark in the mid eighties and she has dropped to 50 now. Obviously she has been badly out of form to drop at that rate however Jim Goldie has a knack with this sort. He is quite likely to bring her back to win a few even if it's not at the level she was competitive previously. Today may be the start of better times.

I doubt the turnstiles will be overworked with punters clambering to get in to this desperate looking meeting. Nevertheless there has to be a winner in every race and Jim Goldie could be a trainer to prosper. Ana Emaraaty is a very low class animal but has winning form here. He's been racing at seven furlongs lately which is on the sharp side for him but steps up to ten furlongs here. Mark Winn is a solid claimer who the trainer has used to good effect previously and they might be the winning combination.