Wednesday U.K. horse racing overviews

The following horse racing tracks in the U.K. will have events on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007, Ayr, Lingfield, Kelso, and Portman Park.

We have an overview for the first races to take place at those courses.

Ayr Racecourse (Scotland): First race starts at 2:20.

Overview of the 2:20 Ayr race: Fitzroy Crossing has shown enough in two races to date to warrant the vote here, Russian Reel and the two Pat Haslam runners Bourbon Highball and Duke Of Tourain are three newcomers to note in the betting. Mark Johnston's colt wasn't beaten far in either contest and he can put the experience to good use this afternoon. Pat Haslam has done well with his juveniles this season and Kevin Darley takes the mount on Duke Of Tourain, suggesting this is the first string. He is a well bred son of Linamix that fetched 36,000 guineas as a two-year-old. Lee Enstone rides stable companion Bourbon Highball who was less expensive but is by a good sire Catcher In The Rye. Kevin Ryan keeps churning out the winners and so Russian Reel, a relatively expensive son of Reel Buddy, cannot easily be discounted. The pick of the other experienced runners should be Nine Stories, but Fitzroy Crossing appears to have the stronger form and he gets the decision.

Lingfield Racecourse: First race starts at 2:10.

Overview of the 2:10 Lingfield race: An intriguing maiden can go to twice-raced Eager Diva ahead of newcomers China Pink, Baffled and Bastakiya. There are some potentially very smart fillies on show here and the market will help guide. However Eager Diva has shown some good form so far and now stepped up a furlong in trip, she can only improve. Bred to get better with time, we may not see the best of her until next year but she can put her experience to good use today. Petit Parc is bred for speed and could be overpriced for her new trainer who is yet to have a winner, however the most interesting newcomer is arguably Baffled. An expensive purchase, his good American pedigree suggests he should be at home on this surface and his dam won over this trip in her first season.

Kelso Racecourse: First race starts at 2:30.

Overview of the 2:30 Kelso race: The Crook is taken to get the better of Abstract Folly and Diamonds And Dust in a competitive opener to the card. The selection caught the eye with a solid effort at Wetherby last time out and with his yard in form he looks like he could be ready to hit the winning trail. Abstract Folly was a little disappointing at Sedgefield last time out but this race is less competitive and he had previously gone close over this course and distance when chasing home Gringo. Diamonds and Dust finished 14l behind Abstract Folly that day and although that was only his second start over hurdles, he will neeed to improve significantly to get competitive today. Schinken Otto reverts to hurdles after a spell over the bigger obstacles and he could go well at a price, but The Crook ran well enough last time to suggest that his turn would not be far away and he is taken to get his head in front.

05/22/2007