4.20pm Ayr Tips & Betting Preview 09/07/2017

With almost £8,000 on offer to the winner, it’s a disappointingly small field for this mile 0-95 handicap, but those who do run, make it a fascinating contest nonetheless. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview.

IN SUMMARY: TWO FOR TWO might be the elder statesman of the field, but his form on good to firm this season is comfortably above this field, taking on his easiest task for some time. Town Charter looks his biggest danger with the weight for age allowance, but he struggled to find cover in a small field the only other time he has tried this trip and the same fate could befall him here. Little Lady Katie ideally needs a little more cut in the ground but she could get a soft lead and make her presence felt.

1 TWO FOR TWO – Strong run of form on quick ground this season, sixth in a handicap at Nottingham that has worked out really well, before runner up efforts at a better level to this. He has struggled the last twice, but on softer ground (has won with cut) and from inflated marks. He returns to his favoured fast ground here from a mark he has already shown he can contest from, can return to form in this easier contest.

2 LAVETTA – Enjoyed a successful 2016 but as a result, she has struggled to cope with a much higher mark so far this season. She is now just three pounds above her last winning mark, when beating Little Lady Katie a neck, but in her current heart, she is difficult to support, looking unlikely to be able to confirm that form from last season.

3 FINN CLASS –  Doesn’t win his races by far so has never been an easy horse to judge what he has in hand. Has won from 88 and 86 (off 85 here) so the mark shouldn’t be a problem, but although he has plenty of smart form on quick ground in his youth, the majority of his better efforts in recent times have come with more cut in the ground than he is likely to get here unless the heavens open.

4 NORMANDIE LADY – Lightly raced compared to the majority of these, she was an impressive winner on her 2017 return. The runner up that day reversed the form by nine lengths at Musselburgh last time which leaves her with questions to answer. She was nibbled in the market on that occasion, so clearly better was expected, but it still means she has a little to prove.

5 LITTLE LADY KATIE – Three pounds better off with Lavetta for a neck beating at Newmarket last year, she is weighted to reverse that now. She ideally needs a little more cut in the ground than she is likely to get here to be seen at her best, but she is a course winner and a front runner in a small field, which makes her dangerous if left alone on the front end.

6 TOWN CHARTER – Sole three year old in the line-up, he looked as if this trip will suit him, staying on well last time out. He was well backed the only time he has tried a mile but failed to find any cover in a small field. He is unexposed and certainly capable of stepping up on what he has done so far, but he could have the same problem in this small field as he did at Redcar.