The predicted going for Ayr on Tuesday is soft, heavy in places, and that will suit both of our runners.
Desaray Girl has run over fences on her last two starts, but after unseating her rider at the ninth fence at Market Rasen a week ago, it has been decided that a return to hurdles is what is needed. She will carry top weight in a 0-100 mares only Conditional Jockeys handicap hurdle, with Emma Smith-Chaston who rode her at Wetherby in December last year, back in the saddle. Desaray Girl has slipped all the way down in the weights to a mark of 99, having been rated 133 after winning a Listed Mares hurdle at Haydock back in December 2019. The problem is that currently she has fallen out of love with racing, and the cheek pieces she wore for the first time at Market Rasen have now been dispensed with.
At the age of 11 Knocknamona showed that he retains all of his enthusiasm for racing when winning for the eighth time at Newcastle 38 days ago. From a very attractive mark of 85 he always travelled strongly, and only needed to be pushed out approaching the last to win easily under his regular jockey Alain Cawley, who will once again will be in the saddle. The handicapper has reacted by giving him an 8lb rise in the weights, but he will still be a danger to all if in the same form. The race is at 2.30.pm, a 0-110 handicap chase, over the extended two and a half miles.
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Good luck to the connections, Resdev, and The Rat Pack Racing Club.