Saturday at Ayr 

There isn’t a great deal of top quality jump racing outside of Ayr this weekend, but I’m glad to see some big names out in force in Scotland. 

The Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (13:50) looks like a two-horse battle between Dusart   and Doyen Breed   to me. Although he’s got to concede 6lb, Dusart is the better horse in terms of class and natural ability and is still very unexposed. He ran a cracker at Aintree last season on only his second ever start over hurdles and we knew he’d make a chaser this season. He’s done little wrong, and I’d say he’s the one to beat.

Anna Bunina  hasn’t won this season, but she was very good last year, and you’d have to say she looks well treated now. She was hampered early on at Musselburgh last time and that didn’t help her, but she was only beaten by six lengths. I think she’ll go much closer this time (14:25).

Milton Harris has had a grand season. He’s done so well with his smaller team of horses and has competed against the big boys all winter. Jacamar  has done him proud, and I think there’s still some mileage in his mark of 135. He’s a nice horse who just needs to brush up on his jumping, and perhaps this smaller field will help him as they’ll go a touch slower. He bypassed having a tough race at Cheltenham, like a couple of these, and should go close again (15:00).

The Scottish Grand National is the feature race of the day (15:35). You’d have to pick a few out as it’s a very open looking and competitive race. I’ve always loved Kitty’s Light  . He jumps like a buck, he’s savage over a fence and is still only six, so will keep on improving. Major Dundee  has done nothing wrong for Alan King all season and we all know Kingy likes to target one at this race. You’d be foolish not to look twice at Stormy Judge  , too. Whatever Peter Fahy sends over to England needs a proper look at and he’s got Danny Mullins in for the ride. Danny is having a great year and is riding at the top of his game.

Sunday at Fairyhouse

On Sunday, there’s a half decent card at Fairyhouse. You’d be surprised if Level Neverending was beaten in the first race (13:15). He was beaten by a neck on his only start for Gordon [Elliott] earlier in the season and this should be a formality.

Dolcita is the one I’d be siding with in the Mares Chase (14:20). She was beaten by Jeremy’s Flame last time but gets a 3lb pull in the weights this time. I’d say Paul [Townend] will try and get her into a good rhythm early, because she can travel so strongly in a race when she’s in her zone.

The Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle is an interesting race (15:30). Arctic Warrior is starting to get the hang of things now. I like the way he did it last time. Berkshire Royal was good on the flat for another Betway ambassador in Andrew Balding and hasn’t gone badly for Willie in three starts. He’s got ability but we haven’t seen much of him this season. Falcon Eight won the Chester Cup on the flat last year, so we know he’s got ability. It’ll be a good race, either way. 

It could be another good day for the Mullins camp as they’ve got Ha D'or in the Grade 2 Hurdle (16:05) and Pink In The Park in the bumper (17:15), both of whom look like they’ll take all of the beating.

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