361-1 Dan Skelton mega acca: 600-mile round trip to Ayr

The Scottish National meeting has a slightly different look to it this year, split Friday and Sunday. What will be the same as most years are the big southern yards raiding Scotland and one of those is Dan Skelton. With his brother Harry in the middle of a battle with Brian Hughes for the jockey championship, every winner at this stage is crucial.

Skelton sends a strong raiding team to Ayr on Friday with the first five of his six runners all looking to hold strong chances, making up a 361/1 acca combined. We will have free horse racing tips for the card as well as the meetings at Newbury, Fontwell, Bath, Exeter and Ballinrobe on the site ahead of the Scottish National itself on Sunday.

1.00 Ayr – Tennent’s Lager Novices’ Hurdle

Well campaigned to win three times on the bounce, Stepney Causeway should be well suited to the drying ground. This will be a slightly stiffer track than Stratford and Catterick where he has won but he scored over an extra quarter of a mile at the former, showing more stamina than he did on the flat.

1.30 Ayr – S.T Andrew Plant Hire Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Three miles on a sound surface has seen Soyouthinksoagain produce his career-best form this season. He pulled miles clear with a well-treated one at Newbury two starts back, making no mistake in going one better last time. He’s up eleven pounds here but the runner-up has franked the form when winning since.

2.40 Ayr – Coral Backing Scottish Racing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Global Harmony bounced back to form at Hereford last time, showing that this test of stamina is fine for her when the ground is on the good side. She was far from disgraced in a Listed race prior to that so from just three pounds higher, she could easily step up again.

3.15 Ayr – Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase

It’s been deep company that Not That Fuisse has kept this season. Fourth in the Haldon Gold Cup and fifth in the Grand Annual both read well at this easier level. He is on the same mark as for the latter and this speedier track should suit him better having tanked at Cheltenham before the hill found him out.

3.50 Ayr – Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap Hurdle

Just two starts over hurdles for Defining Battle but they have both been full of promise. He was a close second to Camprond last time out off level weights, that winner just touched off in a far better race than this at the Grand National meeting last week. That makes this opening handicap mark look on the light side and he was second choice for our NAP of the day.

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