Dali Mail run at Ayr on Monday

John & Nicola Mackin's grey gelding Dali Mail takes on 5 opponents in the 2 miles 0-140 Class 3 handicap chase at Ayr on Monday, off time is 3.05pm.

Overnight joint favourites Reivers Lad and Victory Echo set a good standard for this race. Nicky Richard's Reivers Lad is clearly not one that is easy to train but the handicapper has acted accordingly keeping him on a generous mark of OR125 after his sole chase victory just over 2 years ago.
A faller on return in January, he's always been held in high regard by connections.
Victory Echo won unchallenged on his third outing over fences at Newcastle in December, with Saturdays scorer Ain't My Fault back in fourth. That was in novice company and he may find life a little tougher here.

The ex-Nicholls Touch Kick has run well in several Class 2 Chase company chases and the 4-time winning 10 year old takes a drop in grade here. He could go well if the 2 mile trip is not too short for him.

The admirable Ardera Cross (4th) and I'm To Blame (fell 2nd) both ran in Musselburgh's Scottish Champion Chase last time and both could run well here and couldn't be discounted.

Dali Mail will have his work cut out. He has run well in both starts this season - the last being at Aintree in December - but has been dropped a couple of pounds by the handicapper - every little bit helps. He is suited by the advance going report of soft, but we don't think he'd be inconvenienced if this dried out a bit.
Reivers Lad and Touch Kick may be our dangers but, anyway, best of luck to John & Nicola with Callum Bewley taking the ride.

Dali Mail leads Baby Ticker and Stainsby Girl

Newcastle Saturday review

Maid of Houxty ran a nice race on her introduction to jumping when finishing a close 3rd (beaten 3 lengths) in the 2 mile novices hurdle on Saturday. Craig (Nichol) jumped the mare off in a prominent position tracking a couple of the market leaders. She travelled nicely for a long way and her fluent jumping was impressive. She's bred to get much further and this was evident when getting outpaced approaching the last and dropping off the first 2, but she fairly rattled home to be just 1½ lengths down at the line.
Of course, she'd have won with another half furlong to race.......(discuss).

The quality of the performance was more of note that the bare form of the race as there wasn't a lot of previous hurdle form on view. But Bill Aitchison's mare started a 22-1 shot and it was the first and second favourite in front of her, 3½ lengths back to the fourth horse with daylight separating the remainder.

Very promising.

Stainsby Girl stepped up in grade to the 2 mile Class 2 handicap and wasn't  disgraced in finishing 4th beaten just over 7 lengths. Carrying a low weight, the mare set off with the intention of making this a strong gallop but having led 2 out weakened slightly approaching the last.
She didn't jump either of the last two hurdles all that cleanly but the going in the home straight had dried up considerably which negated her advantage somewhat.
We'll wait to get genuine soft ground before deciding where next to send this game and consistent mare.