Can Flic Ou Voyou strike a title blow for Paul Nicholls?

Friday: 3.30 Ayr
Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Listed) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | RTV

Every race of this value is critical for Dan Skelton if he is going to throw down any sort of challenge for the trainers' title and he knows it.

Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting is one that he has often targeted in the past and Beakstown has been put away with this race in mind since his sixth in the Coral Trophy at Kempton in February.

That was over three miles and Beakstown was travelling better than most, and in front, at the third-last but he didn't stay. He was treading water over the last couple of fences and eventually trailed in 21 lengths behind winner Cap Du Nord.

The drop back nearly half a mile in trip will definitely suit Beakstown and so will the good ground.

In terms of the championship, this is the proverbial six-pointer because Paul Nicholls is hot on the trail of a 13th title and saddles likely favourite Flic Ou Voyou.

Bryony Frost has struck up a successful partnership with Flic Ou Voyou and the pair have recorded form figures of 42132 when joining forces. Another 1 in that sequence would be a huge boost for Nicholls' prospects of retaining his title.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Phil Kirby, trainer of Whoshotthesheriff
He's very talented on his day but can be a bit hit and miss. We've gone thinking he’ll win some days and he hasn’t, but he won really well last time at Carlisle. Ideally I wouldn’t have run him back so soon but there's not a lot coming up for him.

Nick Alexander, trainer of Elvis Mail
He has just had a wind operation and maybe the race is coming a little bit quickly, but I've been trying to find a small chase field for him all season. We thought when he ran at Kelso, where he was fourth in a hurdle, that his wind was catching him in the latter stages.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Flic Ou Voyou
He ran really well at Sandown last time as he jumped well and I think better ground would suit him. It's probably the best he has jumped and he stayed on.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Beakstown
It's a good track for him and the trip is perfect because he didn’t stay three miles last time. I've had this race in mind for him since he ran at Kempton.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Nietzsche
He's in good form and wouldn't want it too soft. He won it last year and he has done well for us over the last few years. It was just too slow for him at Newcastle last time. He's better off a fast pace.
Reporting by Liam Headd

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