All you need to know as Ayr gears up for the Scottish Grand National
It's been a busy week of action, but there's still lots more to come, with Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting starting today.
If that wasn't enough, the Flat is back at Newbury, and that's just two of the six meetings on offer.
There's also a Flat card at Bath, plus jumps meetings at Fontwell, Limerick and Southwell.
Going report
Fontwell (first race at 1.40)
Good (GoingStick: 8.2 on Friday at 06:00)
Newbury (1.50)
Good to soft, soft in places (GoingStick: 5.0 on Friday at 07:30)
Ayr (2.05)
Good, good to soft in places (GoingStick: Hurdle - 6.6; Chase - 6.8 on Friday at 07:15)
Limerick (4.35)
Heavy, soft to heavy in places
Bath (4.40)
Good
Southwell (4.50)
Good to soft (GoingStick: 6.1 on Friday at 06:30)
Market movers
3.15 Ayr - Trongate 25-1 (from 33)
4.30 Limerick - Mag Brady 9-1 (from 10)
4.45 Ayr - Tara View 10-1 (from 11)
4.50 Southwell - Free Range 7-1 (from 8)
5.45 Bath - Rock On Baileys 12-1 (from 16)
6.15 Bath - Marietta Robusti 17-8 (from 9-4)
7.15 Bath - Delagate This Lord 7-1 (from 8)
What to back
Maddy Playle has found one she likes at Ayr, and dispenses her reasoning in ten seconds . . .
What to read
The warm weather led to Cheltenham abandoning a chase on welfare grounds, a decision that did not meet with universal approval.
Jessica Harrington reported some sad news on Thursday, with 'gentle giant' Our Duke dying from a heart attack.
What to watch
Masar was a dominant winner of the Craven Stakes, Nick Watts offers his thoughts on the colt's Classic credentials.
It's the Punchestown festival next week, and Tony O'Hehir caught up with Ted Walsh and Tony Mullins for their Punchestown memories
The best of Racing Post Sport
There's been no shortage of football this week, and there's a crucial Championship promotion encounter on Friday evening as Millwall and Fulham face off.
It's not just football seasons reaching their finales, as Newcastle and Gloucester battle for a place in rugby union's European Challenge Cup final.
Final thought
Masar was pretty magnificent when winning the Craven, but he wasn't the only 2,000 Guineas candidate to impress. Emaraaty was an easy winner on Thursday evening at Newcastle, and John Gosden has previous with sending top-class horses to the track.
Published on 20 April 2018inPreviews
Last updated 13:44, 20 April 2018
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- 4.00 Navan: can former Gold Cup winner Kyprios regain his reputation as the king of the stayers in 2024?
- 2.52 Navan: Purple Lily bids to enhance her Classic credentials in the Salsabil for Paddy Twomey
- 2.25 Sandown: 'I think he's going to run a huge race' - which trainer is feeling bullish as old foes clash in Oaksey Chase?
- Kitty's Light is opposable in a deep bet365 Gold Cup - and there are several legitimate each-way candidates at big prices