Lucky 15 Tips: The champ’s taking in the Scottish Ayr

High time we paid a visit to Ayr for our Lucky 15 tips, and their seven-race card starting at 12:48 is ideal for our purposes.

Sean Bowen's got a good-looking book of rides and the champ is highly likely to be there or thereabouts, during what I'm sure will be a superb afternoon's racing.

Horse Racing Odds

12:48 - Bras d'Or @ 13/8

The opener is a novice hurdle series qualifier, over 2m, and the selection carries the famous colours of an owner very much in the news in recent days.

Bras d'Or is a six-year-old French-bred gelding, pulled-up and second in two 2024 points (both under top amateur Derek O'Connor); then three spins in 2025 (one bumper, two hurdles) with promising, fairly close-up finishes on the tails of the principals in each.

When last seen at Ludlow 27 days ago he was 4.75l off a Twiston-Davies inmate who's now rated 130 and is entered up for a warm handicap at Newbury early next month.

He looks to have been found an ideal opportunity to score for trainer David Pipe and jockey Jack Tudor, and owner JP McManus; who has just announced that the brilliant Harry Cobden will be his retained jockey on both sides of the Irish Sea from May onwards.

Paul Nicholls will therefore lose first claim on Cobden from the start of the new campaign after a long and fruitful association, as Harry gets ready to step into the job executed so gloriously in the past by the likes of AP McCoy, and Barry Geraghty.

13:48 - Gather Yourself @ 9/4

Our first selection probably has a Sean Bowen-ridden rival to beat (Next Twist). In this staying handicap hurdle I'm backing the champ this time on Irish raider Gather Yourself.

Cian Collins trains this six-year-old gelding in Navan, and his experienced charge seeks win number one after 12 starts so far. Our hope last appeared 30 days ago at the trainer's local track and was beaten 12l by a rival now rated 114.

These are calmer waters, and with the invaluable assistance in the saddle from Sean he can open his account this afternoon. Looks like a plot.

14:18 - Fingle Bridge @ 6/5

We're unashamedly with Sean Bowen once again here with Olly Murphy's progressive eight-year-old chaser by Flemensfirth - Fingle Bridge. This one is owned by the prolific McNeill family and Stone family partnership, and is a fantastic five-from-seven in terms of career starts.

Last time at Uttoxeter 35 days ago he enjoyed a bloodless win as his solitary opponent didn't complete, but prior to that he got to within 10l of the spectacular Lulamba at Exeter, finishing in front of a Gary Moore entry who went on to take a £37k Sandown G2 and then run a blinder in Kempton's Kauto Star over Christmas.

Nap material.

14:48 - Jirko @ 2/1

A tight-looking 3m handicap chase, and a selection trained about 90 miles away in Fife by Nick Alexander, who loves having a winner here.

Jirko is a seven-year-old gelding by Balko, a high-quality French hurdler/chaser making a name for himself as a NH stallion. He's got an upwardly-mobile profile and in two races over the larger obstacles he's run with promise in two handicaps for novices.

He's popped down a pound by the assessor for this latest handicap assignment and with a racing weight of 11st 5lb gets three and seven pounds respectively from his two likeliest dangers in Torosay and Big Zouk respectively.

Regular pilot Bruce Lynn is on board and the selection has had a look at these fences already (last time 43 days ago, beaten 13l). It was 5l back to the third that day and he might just have 'bumped into one.' Could be his day though today.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £98 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

Lucky Bonus

Applies to Horse, Greyhound & Virtual Racing bets. All selections must run. 10% bonus on Lucky 15/Yankee. 20% Lucky 31/Canadian. 25% Lucky 63/Heinz. Paid in cash if all selections win. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.