Katie Midwinter (20/04/23)
AYR
2:25pm – Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2)
Colonel Mustard 11/2 – Mrs Lorna Fowler, Kieren Buckley (3)
Lorna Fowler’s charge ran well in the Morebattle off a 3lbs lower mark last month, with Kieren Buckley claiming 3lbs aboard as he does so again here.
A likable type that struggled as a novice hurdler when up against a talented crop including Sir Gerhard, Three Stripe Life and Jonbon, but faces an easier assignment than many he has faced in the past. He is due another win having failed to return to the winner’s enclosure since his maiden success and could finally have his day in the sun.
First Street is a horse of interest on his second run after a wind operation, but is difficult to have confidence in, whilst Milkwood is 4lbs lower than when victorious in the race two years ago and could be capable of a revival.
3:35pm – Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Malina Girl 12/1 (EW) – Gavin Cromwell, Sean Flanagan
Irish-raider Malina Girl impressed in the Ulster National and looks a progressive type well-suited to race conditions at Ayr. She is 9lbs higher for her recent win but could still be ahead of the handicapper.
Flower Of Scotland 16/1 (EW) – Sandy Thomson, Danny McMenamin
Lovely grey mare Flower Of Scotland would be a poigniant winner for a Sandy Thomson yard who sadly suffered the loss of Hill Sixteen at Aintree last weekend. This eight-year-old stays the trip well and is carrying a feather weight. She represents plenty of value and could run on late to enter the frame.
NEWBURY
2:05pm – The Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3)
Swingalong 11/2 – K R Burke, Clifford Lee
This filly beat two promising youngsters in Queen Me and Matilda Picotte to win the Lowther Stakes at York before finishing fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes behind potential stars in Lezoo, Meditate and Mawj. The form has worked out exceptionally well and the three-year-old could take a step forward and will be suited by the ground.
By Showcasing who has produced high-quality milers such as Sussex Stakes winner Mohaather, and out of Shamardal mare Pilates who won over a mile, Karl Burke’s three-year-old could be capable of showing progression up in trip.
2:40pm – Greenham Stakes (Group 3)
There is a strong case to be made for Andrew Balding’s odds-on favourite Chaldean, who is already a Group One winner and has amassed almost half-a-million in prize money so far. He is prominent in ante-post markets ahead of the first Classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas, next month, is a winner over course-and-distance, and has soft ground form.
An emphatic performance could be in the offing, shortening the price ahead of his date with destiny at Newmarket, and perhaps worrying the Ballydoyle contingent. However, he has to overcome this task first and whilst it’s expected he’ll win with ease and make it a perfect preparation, there is value in the field from an each-way perspective and Knight could be the one to follow Chaldean home.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s Mehmas colt is unbeaten so far and has tasted success on heavy ground. He is a Group Three winner, having beaten Grey’s Monument at the track in October. The runner-up on that occasion, trained by Ralph Beckett, is also worthy of consideration and will have no stamina doubts surrounding him as he’s already recorded a victory over a mile. He is capable of outrunning his odds of 28/1.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
4:00pm – Class 4 Handicap Chase
Yggdrasil 7/1 – Jane Williams, David Noonan
The six-year-old gelding caught the eye in the paddock at the course in Novemmber, but failed to shine on the track, perhaps unsuited by the heavy going on that occasion. The better ground here is likely to bring improvement, and he put in a more promising performance on a recent run at Exeter. A mark of 119 could be workable, 3lbs lower than his last winning mark now running in a lower class contest.
THIRSK
3:10pm – Class 3 Conditions Stakes
Spycatcher 3/1 – K R Burke, Pierre-Louis Jamin (3)
A horse that goes well fresh, Spycatcher receives weight from his nearest market rivals and is in with a good chance of making a winning return to the track on Saturday. He has snippets of good form, the best of which came at York last spring when second in a Group Two to Highfield Princess. This could be the time to catch this Burke operative before his next mission.
NAVAN
Aidan O’Brien has made a flying start to the season and is currently performing at a 39% strike rate. He saddles 480,000gns purchase River Tiber in the first race on the card at Navan, an interesting son of Wootton Bassett by Arcano mare Transcendence, making his racecourse debut.
Later on in the card Ballydoyle are dually represented in the Listed contest at 3:30pm, where Ryan Moore’s mount The Antarctic, a brother to superstar Battaash, heads the market in the 5½f sprint. Course-and-distance winner Aesop’s Fables could write an interesting tale in the hands of Wayne Lordan, and is certainly capable of building on his fairly promising juvenile season.
Jessica Harrington’s Ocean Quest and Johnny Murtagh’s Shartash respectively pose dangerous threats, and the form of the race could work out well with Henry de Bromhead’s Cosmic Invasion completing the field.
Jackie Oh impressed on debut at Naas and may be difficult to beat in the 4:05pm, whilst the following race could provide plenty of clues as to who sits at the top of the stayers’ tree. Emily Dickinson shortened significantly in the Ascot Gold Cup ante-post markets following the news of stablemate Kyprios’ injury woes, and is the favourite to make a winning start to her season on her first appearance since a Group Three success at the Curragh in October.
Stablemate Bolshoi Ballet steps up in trip under Seamie Heffernan, seemingly searching for an appropriate division now as a five-year-old, having shown snippets of good form so far in his career.
THE CONDITIONAL 
Oh how I look forward to what you’re writing Katie!
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