I've decided to stay at Ayr for today's selection and once again Dan Skelton trains the favourite in the 4.30 in the shape of Whatduhavtoget.
He's a good-looking five-year-old and won nicely last time at Ludlow. Visually he was impressive, but it may be a case of style over substance. He beat Taws, who has a lot of ability but isn't the most convincing hurdler. His other danger on paper that day Big Robin fell early. So it's hard to grasp what he achieved but he is unexposed and definitely has talent.
Beer Goggles won well on Friday and he has to be feared if turned out again.
I think this race is filled with horses who are exposed or too high in the handicap.
The horse who potentially is the most talented of the bunch but hasn't made the most use of his ability is THE DUTCHMAN. He was a promising novice hurdler who ran in the Neptune Hurdle at Cheltenham (2016) where he was pulled up. He comes from a shrewd yard and for them to take a chance in the race shows the regard they hold The Dutchman in.
All this season he has been campaigned over fences. For me he has not really relished the chasing game and finds it hard work to get into a nice rhythm of jumping. So it's to his credit that he has run some big races in defeat alongside a sole victory.
I like the fact he is back over hurdles and feel he has the ability to run to the 150 mark. So off 137 today I think he has a real chance and looks a good each-way bet at 9/1 in a race that seems to have the look of quantity over quality.
Sporting Life suggestion: The Dutchman - 4.30 Ayr
Friday review - 2.40 Ayr
Everything went to plan for the well-handicapped GREAT FIGHTER. As expected the front runners went a nice gallop with Azzuri in the box seat tracking them.
Great Fighter always looked the likely winner and was delivered under a nicely-timed ride by Callum Bewley. Azzuri's tendency to pull hard doesn't help his cause, fences may help him to run at a more even tempo and I look forward to seeing him over the bigger obstacles.
Posted at 0900 BST on 22/04/17.
