Cracker Debut and Familiar Faces at Ayr
We’re back on the road to Ayr Racecourse today with a trio of runners all partnered by Rowan Scott. It’s a day where we’re hoping to learn plenty, see some positive signs, and, with a bit of luck, be in the mix come the business end of the afternoon.
2:55 – Showmethewayhome
We kick things off with Showmethewayhome, who made her seasonal reappearance recently after quite a long time off the track. She’s been showing all the right signs at home — moving well, working nicely — but after such a lengthy break, she understandably just needed that first run back.
She’s likely to come on again for today’s outing. The ground could be riding a bit on the soft side, and while she’s untested on that going, we’re optimistic it won’t be a major issue. It’s always a bit of a question mark until they face it in race conditions.
Interestingly, she ran fourth in this very race last year, so we know she enjoys the track and the setup. If she handles the ground and builds on her return, there’s every reason to think she could be in the shake-up again and hopefully pinch a place.
4:05 – Cracker Star
Next up is Cracker Star, making his debut for us. He’s a horse with a bit of a story behind him — purchased for £90,000 with jumping in mind, but things didn’t quite go to plan in that sphere, so we’ve taken a bit of a chance on him.
We’ve been very pleased with how he’s settled in since joining the yard. He’s been brought along gradually over the last few months, and while he’s still finding his feet, we’re happy with the way he’s progressing.
Today is very much a starting point. He’s likely to come on plenty for the run, and in time, we think he’ll want a bit further. But he’s a nice type, and this will give us a clearer picture of where we are with him. There’s definitely ability there — it’s just a case of giving him the time and the right opportunities to show it.
4:40 – Millbuie (pictured below)
Last but not least is Millbuie, who ran a better race last time out with the visor applied for the first time. It seemed to sharpen him up, although the race did fall apart a bit, and he ended up in front earlier than we’d have liked. That sort of scenario doesn’t always suit him, as he still shows flashes of inexperience despite having a fair few runs under his belt.
He’s a horse that’s still learning — there’s talent there, but we’re waiting for him to really put it all together. The track should play to his strengths today, and we’re keeping the visor on in the hope that he can back up the positives from his last run. If he does, there’s no reason he can’t be involved at the finish and hopefully nab another place.
Final Thoughts
It’s one of those days where we’re not necessarily heading in with red-hot favourites, but we’re looking to build momentum, gather more information, and hopefully see some promising signs from all three.
