Ayr races: Tap Night fancied to waltz home

Tap Night has an excellent record at Ayr and looks to hold leading claims of further enhancing it in the 3.50 there today now dropped in class.

The Lucinda Russell trained gelding has won three of his four starts at the track, once over hurdles and twice over fences.

He developed into a useful novice chaser last season, where his efforts included a 3 1/4 length second to Captain Conan in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree off an official rating of 145 and a very good second Rajdhani Express at this track off 153.

The seven-year-old has had five starts this season, all in class 1 company, finishing a solid second on his reappearance and a fair eighth of 20 to Johns Spirit in the valuable Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on the first two occasions.

He looked to be coming back to his best when a staying on third of 10 to Wishful Thinking at Cheltenham on his penultimate start, but then disappointed in the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival last time out when not jumping well and eventually being pulled up behind Ballynagour.

The drop down to class 2 company and a return to this track should see him in a far better light, and his current mark of 145 looks more than exploitable on the pick of his form.
With champion jockey Tony McCoy in the saddle he looks sure to take all the beating.

Elsewhere on the card, Fair Loch looks on a handy mark for his handicap debut in the 2.40.

Karl Burke’s six-year-old has shown progress form in three starts over hurdles, and really caught the eye last time out when runner-up to Oscar Hoof in a decent 17-runner novice event at Kempton.

He travelled strongly on the bridle for much of the 2m contest, before staying on well to be beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

The winner is a useful sort rated 138, and that makes Fair Loch look potentially well-treated in this off an opening mark of 127.

In the opening novice hurdle at 2.10, Nicky Henderson’s progressive Sign Of Victory looks sure to take all the beating as he bids to land a hat-trick over the obstacles after impressive victories at Doncaster and Newbury.