THE final Saturday meeting of the year at Ayr Racecourse - Tennent’s Raceday - takes place this weekend.

And a massive £100,000 in prize-money is up for grabs.

As a result, big fields are expected across the seven races which start at the earlier than normal time of 12.25pm with the Famous Grouse Mares’ Maiden Hurdle over two miles, where the in-form Lucinda Russell runs Simone already the winner of a national hunt flat race in Ireland.

Feature race is the £30,000 Tennent’s Cup Scottish Champion Hurdle Trial Handicap Hurdle over two miles and trainer Tom Symonds sends the promising Don Bersy on the long trip from his Herefordshire yard, while Malcolm Jefferson runs the highly rated Mount Mews from his North Yorkshire base.

The Magners Handicap Chase, a Class 3 race worth £18,000, and over two miles, features several previous course winners including the lightly raced nine year-old Duke Of Navan, trained by Nicky Richards, and Malcolm Jefferson’s Special Catch.

There are two more Class 3 £18,000 races – the Guinness Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half miles where Philip Hobbs could run Kayf Adventure and the three-mile Glenfiddich Handicap Hurdle in which Coylton trainer Ian Duncan runs King Of Fashion.

Racing starts at 12.25pm and concludes at 3.50pm.

For more details on racing at Ayr go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or call 01292 264179.