Ayr Preview: Farlow can score for in-form Fahey

Farlow has fallen to a generous mark and with underfoot conditions to suit can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 7f handicap at Ayr today (5.10).

The Richard Fahey trained gelding is a useful sort who got back to winning ways when landing a class 3 contest at Thirsk over 7f in April by a short-head on good-to-soft ground off a rating of 86.

Farlow went on to run finish a cracking fifth of 16 to Abseil in a competitive class 2 contest at Epsom off a mark of 90, and a fine fourth of 11 to Alamargo in a similar grade affair at Newcastle.

The six-year-old now gets into this lower grade class 3 contest off 87, just 1lb higher than when last successful, having shaped well over an inadequate 6f last time out when 13th of 26 to Huntsmans Close in the Ayr Silver Cup.

It gives Farlow major claims at the weights, especially now stepped back up to 7f on soft ground which holds no fears.

The son of Exceed And Excel should also get the race run to suit, and today’s opposition is nothing like the class he faced in the races against Abseil and Almargo.

Dark Opal is another that will relish the soft ground and is going to be tough to beat in the 6f handicap (3.10) now dropped into class 6 company for the first time.

The John Weymes trained filly was last succesful 12 months ago in the mud at this venue in a class 5 contest over 5f where she only had to be driven out to beat Starlight Angel by a neck off 67.

The daughter of Camacho is now able to race off 3lb lower in what is the weakest grade she has ever tackled, having shaped as if coming back to form last time out when staying on well to finish a never nearer fifth of 12 to Margarets Gift at Beverley.

That is strong form in the context of this contest, and Dark Opal won’t need to build on it much to land the spoils if the fitting of the visor for the first time has the desired effect.

In the other 6f sprint handicap on the card (3.40), The Nifty Fox looks decent each-way value having plumetted in the weights.