Ayr embraces extra weekend fixture

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 22:12

THE British Horseracing Authority has given Ayr the all-clear to stage an extra fixture on Saturday, news that will come as sweet music to the ears of jumps-starved racing fans everywhere.

National Hunt cards have been falling like flies of late, Kempton's valuable Lanzarote Hurdle fixture this weekend the latest casualty of the recent cold snap.

That will now be replaced by an all-weather meeting at the London venue which is all well and good, but in an attempt to ensure 'real racing' takes place somewhere in the country, the BHA has agreed Ayr can put in for a bit of overtime.

As long, of course, as the weather decides to play ball.

Having been forced to abandon their last two meetings, the Craigie course currently remains unraceable but with milder weather forecast over the next few days, officials are hopeful all will be well come Saturday.

To make sure that's the case, covers will be put down to protect the racing surface and if things go to plan, bumper fields are likely to be attracted for a Blue Square-sponsored card worth a total of 65,000, as might the Channel 4 television cameras.

"This is a great shot in the arm following the loss of our New Year cards. There has been a lot of racing lost recently so it will be good to have an extra meeting here," said general manager William Gorol.

"As a gesture to the other Scottish jumps courses, members at Perth, Kelso and Musselburgh will be allowed free entry so we are hoping for a big crowd."

Anyone who bought tickets for Ayr's cancelled fixtures on 2 or 3 January can also transfer to Saturday's meeting by calling the course, which should boost the attendance figures still further but on that score, a word of warning.

Racegoers unfamiliar with exactly how to get to Scotland's premier track would be well advised not to follow the old maxim of following the crowd, otherwise they may end up across the road at Somerset Park where Ayr take on Kilmarnock in an Ayrshire derby Scottish Cup tie.

Looking further ahead, those who feared the credit crunch may affect the prize money at Royal Ascot can sleep easy in their beds at night following the announcement that a prize pot of 4.45million, an increase of 450,000, will be on offer at the Berkshire track in the summer.

Admit it, how much of a warm glow does that give you?

As everyone knew it would be, this afternoon's Musselburgh card was abandoned following yesterday morning's inspection and Fontwell had earlier disappeared down the same plughole so we're left with a couple of all-weather cards with which to indulge in that age-old pastime of trying to bash the bookies.

The Scotsman's nap has been enjoying something of a purple patch recently with the last four best bets undefeated.

Things could be about to change however as today's sure-thing may be forced to actually put in an appearance, unlike the previous quartet whose planned outings were all scuppered by the weather.

Unfortunately, history shows that when the best bet has to run, the chances of success are greatly diminished for some strange reason.

Not this time though, and for all that Bonus is easily the elder statesman of the field, and has to give lumps of weight away to his rivals in what looks a highly competitive handicap at Kempton, Gerard Butler's gelding has the class to see him through.

As a nine-year-old, Bonus will hardly be getting any quicker but he can still mix it at a decent level as he showed when going down by half a length to Duff, now there's a great name for a nap, last time out.