By Adam Morgan, PA
Little Hug may need nothing more than a gentle squeeze to open her account at Lingfield following an encouraging run last month.
Roger Varian's three-year-old showed little in two starts last term, but has been much improved since returning a year older and wiser.
She was a keeping on fifth beaten just over two lengths on her return at Yarmouth before returning to the seaside course to pick up a silver medal most recently.
Keenness in the early stages didn't help the daughter of Invincible Spirit on that occasion, but she showed a good attitude to keep striving for victory at the business end and if acting a little more professional here, is a good bet to get off the mark in the Curtis Packaging: Sprint To The Print Novice Stakes.
Red Zone Hero rattled the crossbar at Yarmouth last time and looks well placed to get off the mark in the opening EBF Maiden Stakes at Ayr.
There was plenty of encouragement to be taken from the Starspangledbanner colt's fifth placed finish on his introduction at Windsor and he took a step forward when beaten just three-quarters of a length into second place next time.
Turning out just under a fortnight later, he can make it third time lucky in Scotland.
See My Baby Jive has won his last three, all over the over course and distance, and is hard to oppose in the Staycations At Western House Hotel Handicap.
Course form can also come to the fore when Novak lines up in the Book Scottish Sun Ladies Night Handicap.
Iain Jardine's gelding was a winner over course and distance off a mark 10lb lower three starts ago, but has been unstoppable since, dropping back to six furlongs to add victories at both Hamilton and back here late last month.
He was again going away at the finish in his most recent outing which suggests the handicapper is yet to fully get him in his grasp and he has to rate as the one to beat.
At Ffos Las the booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye aboard Rod Millman's Four Adaay in the Mel Attreed / Alan Bushell Handicap.
The five-year-old has already been in the winner's enclosure twice this season and now attempts to go one better than her Chepstow second off the same mark earlier this month.
She is only 1lb higher than when striking at Newmarket in a hotter heat than this three starts ago and is a consistent performer enjoying a fine season. The application of blinkers is viewed as a positive.
Also at the west Wales track, Art De Vivre's stamina can come to the fore in the forecast soft ground when she drops back to 12 furlongs in the Christian Holland / Keith Davies Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Charlie Fellowes' daughter of Golden Horn is out of a sister to Royal Ascot and Group One winner Magic Wand and has shaped with promise in two starts so far.
She was hampered at a crucial stage when about to make her challenge at Goodwood last time and having settled for second on that occasion, can pick up some compensation here.
Over the obstacles at Newton Abbot, Zabeel Champion can build on his recent Perth win in the attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle, while in the concluding Talk Tidy Marketing Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race it seems wise to stick with Fergal O'Brien's debutant Full Monty considering the stables' regular success inthis sphere.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 2.30 Red Zone Hero, 3.05 See My Baby Jive, 3.40 Novak, 4.15 Chriszoff, 4.50 Chinese Spirit, 5.25 Bonito Cavalo.
FFOS LAS: 6.02 The Cola Kid, 6.32 Without Flaw, 7.07 Four Adaay, 7.42 Art De Vivre, 8.12 She's A Mirage, 8.42 Buxlow Boy.
GALWAY: 5.10 Mystical Power, 5.40 Darkened, 6.10 Mythology, 6.40 Teed Up, 7.15 The Snapper, 7.50 Voice Of Reason, 8.20 My Great Mate.
LINGFIELD: 5.52 Storm Valley, 6.22 No Diggity, 6.57 LITTLE HUG (NAP), 7.32 Otago, 8.02 Proud Fairy, 8.32 Morning Colours.
NEWTON ABBOT: 2.10 Songo, 2.45 Hunting Percival, 3.20 Zabeel Champion, 3.55 Fat Sam, 4.30 Eritage, 5.00 Full Monty.
DOUBLE: Little Hug and Four Adaay.
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 15.10 Songo, Race 2: 15.45 Hunting Percival, Race 3: 16.20 Zabeel Champion, Race 4: 16.55 Fat Sam, Race 5: 17.30 Eritage, Race 6: 18.00 Full Monty.
AYR: Race 1: 15.30 Red Zone Hero, Race 2: 16.05 See My Baby Jive, Race 3: 16.40 Novak, Race 4: 17.15 Chriszoff, Race 5: 17.50 Chinese Spirit, Race 6: 18.25 Bonito Cavalo.
LINGFIELD: Race 1: 18.52 Storm Valley, Race 2: 19.22 No Diggity, Race 3: 19.57 LITTLE HUG (NAP), Race 4: 20.32 Otago, Race 5: 21.02 Proud Fairy, Race 6: 21.32 Morning Colours.
FFOS LAS: Race 1: 19.02 The Cola Kid, Race 2: 19.32 Without Flaw, Race 3: 20.07 Four Adaay, Race 4: 20.42 Art De Vivre, Race 5: 21.12 She's A Mirage, Race 6: 21.42 Buxlow Boy.
ALL TO COME: Little Hug (Lingfield, Race 3) and Four Adaay (Ffos Las, Race 3).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com