Horse Racing Tips: Wal Buck’s to rise up to the occasion at Ayr

We go to Ayr on Friday for our horse racing tips, picking out three fancies from the card north of the border.

One of those is a JP McManus-owned gelding for the training partnership of Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.

13:30 Ayr - Ballyfort @ 3/1

The N W Alexander-trained eight-year-old BALLYFORT is worth another look as he continues to find his feet over fences.

His chasing career got off to a false start, with a couple of early mishaps knocking confidence, but things have begun to click since being given another try this season.

He returned to winning ways at Kelso, showing a much more assured round of jumping and followed that up with a solid third at the same track last time, shaping as though he remains on an upward curve.

Importantly, he's back on the same mark as his recent Kelso win, which leaves him well placed to build on that progress.

He's shown he handles testing conditions, stays this sort of trip well, and now looks far more reliable than earlier in his chasing career.

With confidence growing and recent form encouraging, he remains an interesting contender who could easily take another step forward if continuing his improvement.

14:30 Ayr - Wal Buck's @ 8/1

The Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore-trained WAL BUCK'S is a solid staying type who looks well suited by this sort of test and remains capable of being competitive.

He's shown himself to be a reliable performer over fences, particularly when stepped up in trip, and his recent efforts suggest he's holding his form well.

Last time out at Newcastle he finished a close fourth over an extended 3m6f, sticking on gamely to be beaten less than five lengths in a race that demanded plenty of stamina.

That followed another respectable run at Kelso, again shaping as though these longer distances play to his strengths.

Dropping back to 3m should be no issue, given how strongly he's been finishing his races and conditions are unlikely to inconvenience him.

He's not one with a huge amount of winning form, but he's consistent, jumps soundly and tends to give his running.

15:30 Ayr - Highland Fashion @ 5/2

HIGHLAND FASHION arrives here on the back of a confidence-boosting success and looks capable of following up under similar conditions.

The Ian Duncan-trained gelding put it all together last time out at Newcastle, staying on strongly to land a 2m7½f handicap and giving the impression there was more in the tank at the line.

That was a much-improved effort and suggested he's starting to fulfil the promise he showed earlier in the season.

This step up to his furthest trip to date over three miles is bound to suit. He's generally been consistent without getting his head in front too often, but that latest win may have sparked further progress.

Although the yard has been quiet recently, he's clearly in good heart and with conditions to suit again, he remains of interest despite a higher mark.

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