Ayr preview: Tadalavil weighted to retain crown

Tadalavil can cash-in on a drop in the weights to land the 5f handicap on today’s seven-race card at at Ayr for the second year running (16.05).

The Linda Perratt trained 10-year-old has been a terrific servant over the years, winning eight times.

Two of those successes have come at this track, and the last was in this contest 12 months ago by a short-head off a mark of 50.

This veteran has failed to get his head in front since but has run some solid races to be placed off marks as high as 55.

Tadalavil is now able to race off just 45, 5lb lower than when last successful and a career-low.

It gives the gelding major claims from a handicapping perspective, and Tadlavil comes into the contest having bounced back to form and posted a cracking effort last time out over course and distance seven days ago when a 3/4 length runner-up to Goninodaethat.

That run showed his time was near and, with regular rider Samantha Bell in the saddle, Tadalavil looks primed to make a bold bid to retain his crown.

Doc Charm ran a blinder when runner-up last time out, and can go one better to land the other 6f handicap on what is a competitive card (15.30).

The Karl Burke trained gelding scored at the second time of asking as a juvenile when slamming Blackfoot Brave over course and distance by six lengths.

Doc Charm went on to finish an excellent fifth of 12 to Roossey in a competitive class 2 nursery off a mark of 84, again over course and distance, and is now able to race off just 69.