Yes Tom again shows his liking for Ayr

Roy Wilson plans to “aim for the stars” with Yes Tom following his impressive first victory over fences in the Novices’ Chase at Ayr yesterday.

Although based in Northern Ireland, Yes Tom had shown good form at the Scottish track in the past, winning a novice hurdle a year ago and also filling the runner-up spot on three occasions. Having run third in a good race at Down Royal before falling at Gowran Park, the well-supported 7-4 favourite was back in Britain as he aimed to make it third-time lucky over the larger obstacles and he produced a fine display to give Paddy Brennan his 50th winner of the campaign.

On the front end for the whole of the two-and-a-half-mile journey, he left his rivals for dead after rounding the turn for home, passing the post with seven lengths in hand without being extended. Blenheim Brook ran another creditable race to finish second.

County Antrim-based Wilson said: “I’m very pleased. We were confident we had a good horse, but it is nice to see him go and do it. He’s young, we know he’s very talented and we’re going to mind him. We’ll probably come back here in two weeks for a similar race. We’ll aim for the stars and see where we end up. We have a good strike-rate in Ayr and it helps being so close to the boat. We can be in Ayr probably as quick as we can be in Leopardstown.”

Potent duo Donald McCain and Jason Maguire fired in a double at the meeting, kicking off with Lexi’s Boy in the BetVictor.com Maiden Hurdle.

Having been bought out of Kevin Ryan’s yard for 60,000 guineas, the grey was pulled up when sent off a hot favourite for his hurdling introduction at Kelso in October. But given time to get over that, the 5-2 chance travelled and showed a nice turn of foot to score by six lengths from Find A Key. Total Rebellion (16-1) completed the brace when making a winning handicap debut in the Play Casino At BetVictor.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

The application of a visor helped Martin Todhunter’s Allanard get off the mark for the season in the Best Odds At BetVictor.com Handicap Chase, while rank outsider Shooting Times (25-1) claimed the Watch Live Racing At BetVictor.com Handicap Hurdle under Robert McCarth. Ferdy Murphy and John Winston collected the BetVictor.com Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase with 7-2 chance Ockey De Neulliac, and there was an upset in the closing bumper as McCain’s odds-on favourite Howaboutnow was turned over by 5-1 shot Young Palm.

Meanwhile, Ballabriggs is about to have his work schedule stepped-up a gear in preparation for one or two outings before bidding for back-to-back successes in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 11-year-old’s trainer McCain has pinpointed Kelso’s Premier Chase on 3 March as Ballabriggs’ last run before his 14 April date at Aintree, as it was ahead of his 2011 National triumph under Jason Maguire.

But Haydock’s Rendlesham Hurdle could precede that if McCain feels two runs are necessary for Ballabriggs to be at his absolute peak as he tries to become only the eighth horse in history to win the National on more than one occasion. “We are just at the stage when he’s starting fast work again. We know him well, he’s very exciting and of course the National is the biggest day of the year for us,” said McCain.

McCain insists Kelso’s extended two-mile-six-furlong contest is of paramount importance.

He added: “We ran Cloudy Lane in it and Balla finished second in the race last season. Going back there is Plan A and that will be his final run before the National. I don’t know whether he will have another run before then. We’ll just wait until we get a bit closer before deciding.”