Ayr preview: Final Assault to floor rivals

David Metcalf | November 11, 2015

Final Assault ran a superb race on seasonal reappearance and can provide in-form trainer Lucinda Russell with another winner in the 3m handicap chase on today’s card at Ayr (14.50).

The gelding opened his account over fences at Bangor back in January when easily beating Goodtoknow by 10 lengths off a mark of 120.

Final Assault was hit with a 12lb rise for that facile success, but ran well of his revised mark of 132 when a four length runner-up to the now 140-rated Fine Rightly at Ayr.

The six-year-old then ran below par at Haydock, but quickly bounced back to finish a decent nine length runner-up to the very smart 155-rated Oscar Rock at Kelso.

Final Assault went on to finish a highly respectable effort when third to Puffin Billy in a decent contest class 2 contest at Ayr off 131, and looked better than ever when third of 10 to Village Vic on return to action at Wetherby last month off a rating of 129.

The son of Beneficial kept on well to be beaten just a length, and it was a run which suggested he was ahead of his mark and needed keeping firmly onside.

Village Vic has also come out and won since to give the form a solid look, and that makes Final Assault look very well-treated in this off just 1lb higher.

Too Cool To Fool decent value on return to smaller obstacles

In the 2m 5f handicap hurdle (13.50), course specialist Too Cool To Fool looks nicely treated now returned to the smaller obstacles and decent value to enhance his super record at the track.

The Jim Goldie trained gelding has won six and been placed in three of his 20 starts at the venue, with the last of those successes coming back in March off a mark of 105 where he finished alone in a handicap chase.