Ayr Tips: Outlook good for Hornsea Bay

With six UK and Irish meetings taking place across Thursday there's plenty of racing action to cater for all tastes.

Amongst it will be the first afternoon of Ayr’s three-day Festival, where they have eight races from 13:45-17.20 on ground forecast to be Soft. We've picked out a trio to follow, including the unexposed The Childe Of Hale, who can improve again for a stronger test of stamina.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

14:45 Ayr - Hornsea Bay @ 4/1

The feature handicap on Thursday is a competitive Class 2 event over 1m2f, with 13going to post.

HORNSEA BAY has been slightly frustrating since making an impressive winning debut at this meeting last year. However, he has been shaping with plenty of promise in recent starts, without getting an ideal set-up.

The pick of his recent efforts came three starts ago over this course and distance, pulling clear of the remainder when going down by less than a length to Crown of Oaks, who bolted up on his next start and is among the favourites for the Cambridgeshire, while the third has also won since.

He is very capable  from his current rating and a return to Ayr can see him break his duck in handicaps.

15:45 Ayr - The Childe Of Hale @ 10/3

THE CHILDE OF HALE is a handicapper to keep onside in the Class 5 mile contest at 15:45.

The gelded son of Havana Grey showed some ability over 6f in his qualifying runs last year, but has improved with experience and a step up in trip this season.

He caught the eye on both his previous attempts in 7f handicaps at Haydock before getting off the mark at Doncaster last time in comfortable fashion.

That form has received some minor boosts with the third narrowly beaten into second next time and the fourth finishing second on both subsequent starts.

That victory proved his ability to handle some give in the ground and Ivan Furtado’s runner can defy a 4lb rise in the handicap with the step up to a mile a source of further improvement.

13:45 Ayr - Mr Colonel @ 2/5

Richard Fahey’s MR COLONEL will likely be a short price in the opening race of Ayr’s three-day festival, having been a big eye-catcher last time out.

The son of Frankel sets the standard amongst those with experience, having pushed well fancied odds-on shot August George close when finishing second on his race course debut last month.

That rival had the benefit of experience, having gone down narrowly to a well touted Godolphin colt in a Newmarket maiden.

He is entitled to improve from that experience, Tom Marquand is positive jockey booking and it will take an above average newcomer to get the better of him here, so he looks like banker material on this card.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.