Golden to Strike at AYR

By Adam Morgan, PA

Golden Strike looks a hot prospect and is backed to hit the target in the Virgin Bet Maiden Stakes at Ayr.

Richard Fahey’s youngster cost 135,000 guineas at the sales earlier in the year and made a promising debut when third to a smart operator at Pontefract on debut.

He was slowly away and showed plenty of greenness in the early stages of that event, but made some eyecatching progress once the penny dropped and he is sure to have learnt plenty from that experience.

The son of Calyx should have no problem building on that first attempt here and looks more than capable of winning a maiden.

Hortzadar took advantage of a falling mark when successful over course and distance recently and is trusted to get punters off to a winning start off a 3lb higher rating in the opening Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap.

Another who can follow up a win last time is Rebecca Menzies’ consistent performer Star Start, who has finished outside the first three only once this season.

The three-year-old has won two of his last three and escaping a penalty for his win at Beverley last week, can strike again while the iron is hot in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap.

Menzies can also strike over the obstacles at Sedgefield where Imperial Data heads to the trainer’s local track with an improving profile.

Having hit the crossbar in his first three outings under rules, the point-to-point winner thrived following wind surgery to open his account at Kelso recently.

That was his first outing over an intermediate trip which looks the ideal distance for now and another success could be on the cards in the Best Odds Guaranteed Daily With Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle.

Also in the north east, it may be worth siding with Milton Harris’ Latin Verse in the Paxtons No1 Caseih Dealer In UK&Ireland Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

The handler has debuted both Scriptwriter and Knight Salute over hurdles at this track in recent seasons, with the latter winning this event two years ago.

Latin Verse may not be of the same calibre as those two high-class hurdlers, but is rated in the 70s on the level and may have more to give in his new discipline.

Cardano is also swapping the Flat for obstacles in the Shine Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Ben Brookhouse’s charge was last seen bouncing back to his best following wind surgery in the Jump Jockeys Derby at Epsom and now switches to timber off a rating only 16lb higher than his Flat figure with Eddie Edge also removing 10lb with his claim.

There is also jumping action at Southwell where it is hard to oppose Swapped in the Weatherby’s Digital Solutions Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Charles and Adam Pogson’s six-year-old brought up a fences hat-trick with supreme ease at the track last month and despite a hefty rise for that emphatic 31-length success, Swapped looks a chaser on the rise.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 14.30 Imperial Data, Race 2: 15.00 Latin Verse, Race 3: 15.35 Bradford Lady, Race 4: 16.10 Tupelo Mississippi, Race 5: 16.45 Tonto's Spirit, Race 6: 17.20 Cardano, Race 7: 17.50 Tommy Time.

AYR: Race 1: 14.42 Hortzadar, Race 2: 15.12 GOLDEN STRIKE (NAP), Race 3: 15.47 Star Start, Race 4: 16.22 Sirona, Race 5: 16.57 Kalganov, Race 6: 17.32 Darbucks, Race 7: 18.07 Cold Stare, Race 8: 18.37 Michael's Pledge.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.20 Lusitanien, Race 2: 15.55 Swapped, Race 3: 16.30 Mystic Man, Race 4: 17.05 Destroytheevidence, Race 5: 17.40 Throne Hall, Race 6: 18.15 Sergeant Wilson, Race 7: 18.45 Blazing Court.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 17.27 Starfighter, Race 2: 18.00 Amroon, Race 3: 18.30 Della, Race 4: 19.00 Ciotog, Race 5: 19.30 Midsummer Music, Race 6: 20.00 Fools And Horses, Race 7: 20.30 Speed Dial Baileys, Race 8: 21.00 My Delilah, Race 9: 21.30 Chinese Whisperer.

ALL TO COME: Imperial Data (Sedgefield, Race 1) and Golden Strike (Ayr, Race 2).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com