1.20pm Ayr Tips & Betting Preview 19/12/2016

Just the seven line-up for this 0-100 handicap chase over 1m7f at Ayr today with £3,249 on offer for the winner. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This should be all about TITIAN BOY who comes into this off the back of two course victories in the last few weeks and the hat-trick beckons. He travels well into his races and although prone to the odd blunder, he can defy another rise in the weights and take this race in which all of his rivals have questions to answer. Duhallowcountry looks best of the rest.

1 Titian Boy – Struggled in six hurdles races last time but seemed to benefit from a 251 day break, when scoring back-to-back victories in good fashion over 2m4f this term, just getting up by a length thirteen days ago. Probably would have won by further that day given he blundered four-out. Has gone up 22lb since that first victory but the manner in which he travels should aid him once again here and the drop in trip will suit. He is facing a moderate bunch here and he can land the hat-trick under the brilliant Brian Hughes.

2 Baraboy – Scored in a Class 5 hurdle with ease at Uttoxeter (Good/Soft) by eight lengths in July over today’s trip but has largely disappointed since including his last three runs over today’s obstacles. Doesn’t look too badly treated on hurdling form but needs a career-best to get involved here.

3 Gin Cobbler – Five-time winner over fences and hadn’t won for nearly a year until landing a Class 5 handicap chase in great style at Sedgefield (Good) in May by one-and-a half lengths. Has looked a bit off the pace in two runs this term over fences but looked more like his old self when third of six at Musselburgh last month over today’s trip. Has a lot to prove here but conditions should be fine for him and he remains on the same mark as his Sedgefield win. Place claims.

4 Willie Hall – Scored back-to-back wins in Class 4 chases over C&D (Heavy) at the turn of the year but largely out of form in six runs since. Almost a 13-y-o, he was pulled up on his last start at Sedgefield and despite the similar mark for those wins in January, he really needs to bounce back to get anywhere near Titian Boy today.

5 Five Point Plan – Mildly promising in two runs this term after a nineteen month break. Improved on ninth of 10 in first run at Kelso to finish third last time out in a Class 5 chase at Hexham. Still a maiden over fences and easy to overlook today given how far behind the winner he was last time out.

6 Duhallowcountry – Sole career-win came at Sedgefield (Soft) in a Class 5 chase over 2m in March. Mixed form since including being pulled up latest and wasn’t disgraced two starts ago at Market Rasen and can get into the money if putting his best foot forward as he was a comfortable winner at Sedgefield and this race isn’t much deeper. Looks the biggest threat to Titian Boy.

7 Anitopia – Won a bumper in good style at Kelso (Good) on his second start five years ago. Returned from an absence of almost four years earlier this Spring and has struggled over hurdles and fences alike since. Looks up against it here.