Ayr Preview: One For Arthur weighted to follow-up

One For Arthur looks to have got in lightly on handicap debut at Ayr today and can take advantage to land the 3m hurdle contest (2.45).

The Lucinda Russell trained gelding shaped with promise to finish in the frame in his four starts over hurdles before scoring in good style at Haydock last month.

The six-year-old travelled well throughout the 2m 4f contest, and after being produced to lead at the second last kept on well to beat Subtle Grey by five lengths.

One For Arthur scored with plenty up his sleeve, and the runner-up has since come out and scored in good style at Uttoxeter to give the form a boost.

The assessor allotted One For Arthur an opening mark of 120 immediately after that race, but the subsequent win of Subtle Grey means that he is due to race off a revised mark of 124 after today.

That means the selection is officially 4lb well-in at the weights, and with the step up in trip expected to suit and further improvement looking assured makes One For Arthur the one they all have to beat.

In the 2m 4f conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle (3.15), Willie Hall is an interesting runner at a big price on his first start for trainer Lisa Harrison.

The gelding won at Sedgefield at around this time last year when trained by Willie Amos, digging deep on bottomless ground to beat Indigo Island by a length off a rating of 82.
The 11-year-old got put up 7lb for that success and has subsequently failed to sparkle and ran well below par in three starts.

However, Willie Hall’s mark has fallen as a result and the son of Alflora is now able to race off just 2lb higher than when last successful on his first start for Harrison.

That makes Willie Hall potentially well-treated if the stable move has freshened him up, especially considering that he has been rated as high as 115 over hurdles in the past.

Elswhere on the card, the trainer/jockey combination of Stuart Crawford and AP McCoy look to have leading claims of landing a double courtesy of Yest Tom and Cornerman.