3.15 Ayr: the one race you cannot afford to miss on Monday

3.15 Ayr
Jumping For Joy On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

Brian Hughes and Richard Johnson continue their championship dual in Ayr’s feature race on Monday, with the latter teaming up with Gordon Elliott in this seven-runner contest.

The pair have a good record when combining, with 98 winners at a 30 per cent strike rate over the last five years, and they turn out five-year-old Ocean Voyage, who is notably the youngest horse in the race by a couple of years.

It is his first run across the Irish sea since being trained by Elliott and he is being stepped back down in trip following two disappointing runs over 2m4f.

Gordon Elliott: has booked Richard Johnson for the ride on Ocean VoyageCredit: Patrick McCann

Hughes is aboard the James Ewart-trained Calix Delafayette, a heavy-ground specialist who leads the market but will have to prove his fitness after a 607-day absence.

He is one of two horses in this contest with a 100 per cent record at Ayr, the other being the William Young jnr-trained Ardera Cross, who could prove handy off a mark of 123 having regularly switched between fences and hurdles this season.

What do the stats say?

James Ewart and Brian Hughes have a combined 36 per cent strike-rate at this track and they team up with Calix Delafayette, who is two from two on heavy ground.

West Drive has recorded the highest adjusted RPR in the race with 130.

Mcgowan's Pass has form figures of 21 at Ayr and struck over course and distance in December 2017.

What do the trainers say?

William Young jnr, trainer of Ardera Cross
We've got 5lb in hand over his chase mark so he looks pretty well handicapped, but it's a competitive race. He's well at home and has had a nice break since his last run, so he should be in there with a chance.

James Ewart, trainer of Calix Delafayette
He’s a nice-looking horse. He's been in training for a long time now and is as fit we can have him. I’ve been pleased with my other horses who have had a long time off, so I think he’ll be fit enough, I just don’t know if his handicap mark is fair. The good news is he likes the track, he’ll handle the ground and he’s got Brian Hughes to help him along. I can understand why he’s favourite, but he’s short enough on his comeback run with a career-high mark.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Mcgowan’s Pass
I think he’s very well. It didn’t really work for him last year but our horses are well and we’re hoping he’ll run a nice race. I would hope he’ll go close enough. First-time out it’s a bit of an unknown quantity and he didn’t come back to us until mid-November, so hopefully he’s fit enough.

Martin Todhunter, trainer of Bulls Head
He took a heavy fall at Carlisle in 2018 and lost his confidence a bit, so we’re just looking to get a bit of confidence back into him. He’ll like the ground and there is no weight on his back, so I expect him to run respectably. It’s a small field so we can sit him quietly at the back and see what happens.

Sandy Forster, trainer of Ashjan
We’re on a learning curve with him, he’s probably going to go chasing but we’re staying over hurdles at the moment. He’ll be suited by Rachael McDonald riding him, but his handicap mark is higher than it should be.

Mike Smith, trainer of West Drive
Gary Moore tried to claim him back which is always a good thing! I’m not sure the heavy ground will be ideal for him, but he’s quite a nice horse. We’ve schooled him a bit and he jumped away quite well. I’m looking forward to running him. Dale Irving takes 3lb off and he's schooled him, and we’re hopeful of an each-way chance.

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday