'He can pick off the front-runners one by one' - Gary Savage with four Tuesday tips

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Duty Calls
2.15 Ayr
1pt each-way

Cream Of The West
3.55 Ayr
1pt win

Dark Side Thunder
6.30 Newcastle
1pt each-way

Moyola
7.00 Newcastle
1pt win

The more you look at the shape of the 2m½f handicap chase at Ayr (2.15) the more hold-up performer Duty Calls looks worthy of each-way support.

A massive battle for the lead looks likely, with at least five of the seven runners showing a liking for getting on with things, so Duty Calls looks set to enjoy the run of the race.

Kim Bailey's Moonlighter is of interest given the trainer has had a winner and two seconds from three runners at the course in the last five years.

The flat track and trip will definitely suit, but Moonlighter is an exuberant front-runner and he is bypassed with the chance of an easy lead looking slim, a comment which also applies to Lucinda Russell's Netywell.

Ardera Cross has won here nine times and could easily go well again, but he also likes to be up at the front end, especially at this trip. He beat Fia Fuinidh into second here last month, but the latter is 2lb better off for two lengths, and has also had wind surgery in the meantime.

Duty Calls is sure to be ridden with restraint, has run the two best races of his life on his two starts this season (one under Emma Smith-Chaston, who rides here), and copes with any ground conditions. He can pick off the front-runners one by one.

Nick Alexander has an 18 per cent strike-rate at Ayr in the last five seasons for a £1 level-stake profit of £75.17, so anything he sends to this track is worthy of respect. He runs eight on the card and three in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (3.55), with Cream Of The West looking to be the trainer's best chance of a winner.

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This is competitive, with regular runner-up Teesomponentstrig sporting blinkers for the first-time. He was second to Curley Finger, who won a Pertemps qualifier on his next run, last time out.

Teescomponentsrig certainly has a chance under Brian Hughes, as does Lady In The Park, who has an attractive profile and looks sure to be suited by this trip.

Cream Of The West is unexposed, though, after just four starts under rules, and has posted two excellent efforts this season.

The eight-year-old was a close third behind horses now rated 111 and 124 in a Hexham maiden hurdle in November, before making a successful handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 97 with a cosy success here over 2m5½f in December.

He is 2lb worse off with the reopposing Enemy At The Gate, who was beaten a length and a quarter, but he was comfortably on top at the line having shown inexperience. The form was also given a boost when the third hacked up in a novice handicap chase next time.

Cream Of The West settles well, which may be important as there might not be much pace on here, and can continue on an upward curve.

At Newcastle, the Jessica Macey-trained Dark Side Thunder can repay each-way support from a good draw in the 6f handicap (6.30).

Mick Appleby's Tyke continues to catch the eye, and could benefit from Luke Morris's strong handling, but his tendency to pull hard is likely to prove a problem given the stiff finish.

Dark Side Thunder has a good draw in 11 and a 9lb pull for the three and a quarter lengths Tyke beat him at Southwell, while Macey has had 14 winners from 99 runners at Newcastle, with more than half finishing in the first four.

Moyola is worthy of support in the 5f handicap (7.00) as, despite two poor runs here since, it's hard to forget the impression he made when clearing away from his rivals in a 6f nursery at the course in October.

He would certainly have won at this trip that day and, with that in mind, it might be worth overlooking his next two runs here when he was far too free after failing to get cover.

His last two starts show he is capable off his mark, bumping into one at Wolverhampton before facing an impossible task when trying to make ground from the rear at Southwell last time.

With Buzz Box and The Liegeman likely to put pace to the race, Ryan Sexton can hopefully get into a good position before unleashing Moyola's potent turn of foot.

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Published on 12 February 2024inExclusive tips

Last updated 18:37, 12 February 2024

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