THE flat season at Ayr Racecourse continues apace with a competitive six-race meeting at the track on Thursday, May 2. 

Racing gets underway at 1.52pm, with a six-runner maiden stakes in class five before rounding off at 4.35pm with a class five handicap over the one seven furlong trip. 

The opener sees Moon Man as the one to beat for trainer David O’Meara, a three-year-old with two seconds under his belt at Southwell and Newcastle, the former just 20 days ago. He can go one better here.

Karl Burke’s debutant Jungle Land could be the chief threat but is an unknown quantity in this sphere. 

Race two (2.22pm) is a 10-runner handicap in class six over the 5f sprint distance and preference is for Golden Rainbow, who has been campaigned mainly at Newcastle but has rock solid form heading to Ayr with two wins and two seconds from four runs, with top jockey Hollie Doyle an eye-catching booking for trainer Rebecca Menzies. 

The third race on the card (2.52pm) is a hot 7f handicap in class six and a few have strong claims for the win. Zebra Star hasn’t won in 12 starts but was a solid fourth of teen in a course and distance handicap six months ago when last seen, while the Jim Goldie-trained Global Humour, a three-time course and distance winner, was second here on Monday and if he can handle the quick turnaround, can go well again. 

Sycamore Gap has shaped well in a couple of minor events and is the selection for race four (3.27pm), switching to turf for the 1m2f handicap with four other runners set to provide the competition.

The chief threat could come from Rose Donnelly, fourth at Kempton last month when last seen. 

The penultimate race of the afternoon (4.02pm) can go the way of Headabovetherest, who is the clear class of the six-runner field for the Doyle and Menzies team again in what looks a pretty weak contest on paper. 

Finally, the meeting comes to a close with the 1m7f handicap at 4.35pm and preference is for Tafsir, a good second at Ayr earlier this week in a seven-runner handicap and is another who can improve providing he can handle a quick turnaround.

Animato hasn’t won in 19 previous starts but is back up in trip which should suit and he holds place claims for the finale. 

 

Ayr selections - Thursday (via Grosvenor Sport)

  • 1.52pm - Moon Man
  • 2.22 pm- Golden Rainbow
  • 2.52pm - Global Humour
  • 3.27pm - Sycamore Gap
  • 4.02pm - Headabovetherest
  • 4.35pm - Tafsir