Ayr Preview: Saxonette ready to hit the nigh notes

Scottish trainer Linda Perratt has her team in good form, and Saxonette holds leading claims of providing her with another winner in the 5f handicap at Ayr today (4.30).

The mare is a course and distance winner who was last successful when landing a selling handicap over 6f at Hamilton 12 months ago off a mark of 50.

The six-year-old went on to be placed in her next three starts, including off a rating of 56, and now gets into this off just 48.

That gives Saxonette every chance at the weights, and the daughter of Piccolo comes into the contest on the back of a promising effort over course and distance three weeks ago when finishing a two length third of 11 to Chosen One in an amateur riders’ contest.

Saxonette lost vital ground when going right at the at the start that day, but showed plenty of early dash to chase the leaders and hold every chance a furlong from home before being unable to find any extra deep inside the last.

It was a run which suggested Saxonette was ready to go in again, and she now gets the professional services of PJ Mcdonald in the saddle who was onboard when she last won.

Perratt has a whole host of other fancied runners on the card, and Royal Straight looks to have a big chance of providing her with a double in the 1m 2f handicap (3.30).

The nine-year-old is a dual course and distance winner, and the scored by nine lengths on the last of those off a mark of 67.

The son of Halling now races off 3lb lower having shaped as if coming back to form over 1m 4f last time out at Hamilton when a close up third to Aleksander.

Royal Straight could find no extra near the finish to be beaten 3/4 of a length, and the drop back to 1m 2f looks a major plus.

Four of Royal Straight’s five career successes have come over it, and with Samthana Bell in the saddle taking off a further 5lb, the veteran looks weighted to take all the beating.

In the 1m 5f contest that closes the card (5.30), Vittachi could be a bit of each-way value now refitted with the cheekpieces.