THE summer flat racing season at Ayr comes to an end on Thursday afternoon with the 18th meeting of the campaign - and a seven-race card to get stuck into. 

Racing gets underway at 1.40pm with an apprentice handicap in class five before the action comes to a close for the season at 5.08pm with a class six handicap. 

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full meeting preview courtesy of Racing TV free bets.

The opening contest on the Ayr card on Thursday sees a good field of 12 runners head to the start for the one mile and two furlong apprentice handicap in class five (1.40). Susiesparkle has been in good form since joining the Iain Jardine yard and can go one better than a recent couple of seconds in the opener. Inappropriate was a winner last time out at Beverley for trainer Harry Eustace so rates the obvious danger here.

Seven runners will take on the mile novice stakes in class five to mark race two of the afternoon at Ayr (2.15), with preference heading the way of good-looking prospect Hornsea Bay for trainer David O’Meara, a winner of an 11-runner novice over this course and distance three weeks ago on debut. The re-opposing Bambalam was beaten by the selection that day and is not without potential for improvement here so rates the chief threat once again as the two do battle for a second time.

Lumenbourg looks the one to beat in race three on the card (2.50) as nine runners tackle the seven furlong handicap in class six, with Julie Camacho’s three-year-old heading in the right direction having won at Doncaster and followed up with second at Redcar so should go well once again.

Eleven runners are set for the off in race four of the day (3.25) with the hat-trick seeking Hour By Hour heading the field, and the aforementioned trainer Jardine can complete a double on the card with the four-year-old who arrives off the back of a pair of wins at Hamilton last month. Of his rivals, course and distance winner Be Proud can bounce back to form weighted below his last winning mark, while Rousing Encore was a good second in a course and distance handicap nine days ago so should be there or thereabouts again. 

Maxi Boy ended a long losing run by scoring with a well-judged ride at Newcastle last time out and he is taken to follow up in race five at Ayr (4.00) in the class five handicap ahead of Cancan In The Rain, an encouraging second in a Southwell handicap on his last spin and is back on the grass surface here after a spell on the all-weather.

The penultimate race of the season is up next at 4.33 and is a mile handicap in class six which can go the way of Shine On Brendan for trainer Jim Goldie, a previous course and distance winner who also scored on his run at Hamilton ten days ago and can shoulder a penalty for that success here from the opposing Gainsbourg. 

Finally, the Flat season comes to an end at 5.08 with the 11-runner class six handicap, with reference heading the way of Daddy’s Angel for trainer John Wainwright, a Redcar handicap winner just five days ago to complete a hat-trick who is turned out quickly to try and bag a four-timer up in trip. 

Ayr selections - Thursday

  • 1.40 - Susiesparkle
  • 2.15 - Hornsea Bay
  • 2.50 - Lumenbourg
  • 3.25 - Hour By Hour
  • 4.00 - Maxi Boy
  • 4.33 - Shine On Brendan
  • 5.08 - Daddy’s Angel