The National Hunt racing season continues apace at Ayr on Tuesday with a competitive seven-race card on offer for punters heading to the track.
The Virgin Bet Raceday gets under way with a mares' handicap hurdle at 1.45pm before rounding off at 5.04pm with a bumper closing contest - with all seven races being shown live on Racing TV.
The opener at 1.45pm sees nine runners head to post to tackle the 2m4f trip, where Fiveafterfour looks to be a major player for trainer Lucinda Russell stepping up in trip and making her debut in handicaps having shown modest form so far over hurdles.
The chief threat could come from Spice Diva, who is dropping down in distance and off the back of a better than it looked fourth last time out.
Race two on the card (2.15pm) has the return of six-time course and distance winner Ardera Cross to Ayr and the 13-year-old veteran, who won this race last year, is among the major players again. Fia Funidh re-opposes Ardera Cross here, with the latter having beaten the former at Ayr 40 days ago.
Race three (2.45pm) should go the way of Indian Louis for the aforementioned Russell yard, who looked good when switching to fences from hurdles 43 days ago when scoring at Musselburgh.
Knocknagappagh is still a maiden after 22 runs but holds strong claims to finally break the duck here, having been a good second of ten runners at Punchestown last time out.
The midway point of the card arrives at 3.20pm and another Russell runner, President Scottie, looks to be the pick of the bunch having finished second of seven on hurdles debut over this course and distance on January 2.
Race five (3.55pm) should go the way of Teescomponentstrig, whose second at Newcastle has been franked by the winner that day going on to score once again. Race six (4.30pm) is much more open but the selection is for Post Chaise to defy top weight and secure the win in the 11-runner handicap chase.
The card comes to a close with the bumper - a flat race run over jumps rules - and the selection here is for Pitwood Road, a point-to-point winner and second on debut under rules at Tipperary two starts previously.
Ayr selections (via Cheltenham odds): 1.45pm Fiveafterfour; 2.15pm Ardera Cross; 2.45pm Indian Louis; 3.20pm President Scottie; 3.55pm Teescomponentstrig; 4.30pm Post Chaise; 5.04pm Pitwood Road.
For more detail on Ayr's forthcoming fixtures see the official Ayr Racecourse website.
(Preview courtesy of Racing TV)
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