His talent is undeniable - but can Dusart strike despite short turnaround?

Saturday: 1.50 Ayr
CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

This card features the Grade 2 Future Champions Novices' Chase but the highest-rated novice running at Ayr tackles this handicap instead.

The 147-rated Dusart has long had a big reputation at Seven Barrows and rightly so. Simonsig’s half-brother was sent off the 5-2 joint-favourite for the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree over 2m½f on just his second hurdles start last season, and chasing has gone well this year.

While his unbeaten record over fences ended at the Cheltenham Festival, that was in a Grade 1 on soft going behind a genuine star in L’Homme Presse.

Decent ground on a left-handed track is what Dusart requires and depending on the weather forecasts you read, he might get those conditions here.

His talent is undeniable, but one suspects if Dusart had missed Cheltenham he would be a good chunk shorter in the betting. The ability to handle a 17-day turnaround will be the key to his chance.

It may pay to side with fresher horses in this contest and The Golden Rebel merits consideration. He hasn’t completed a race since December but was travelling strongly in a warm handicap chase at Doncaster in January before falling and the market spoke favourably for him there.

Freshened up since, the Ben Case-trained eight-year-old was progressive before that and could have the few pounds in hand he will require to score here.

The rapidly progressive Sounds Russian is also feared, but his improvement has come on heavy ground. Every drop of rain will be required to tease out another career-best effort.

Doyen Breed goes on anything and drops in class after finishing second to Threeunderthrufive and Does He Know in a pair of weak Grade 2 chases recently. That pair failed to frank the form at Cheltenham and whether Doyen Breed has much in hand off 141 is debatable.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Sounds Russian takes next step

Sounds Russian has been raised a whopping 34lb for three chase wins and faces his stiffest task yet on this further step up in grade.

The seven-year-old has won by an aggregate of 48 lengths in victories at Sedgefield and Kelso (twice) but defeated the now 118-rated Niceandeasy last time.

A rather different question will be asked here, with the bottomweight rated 126 and topweight Dusart running off 147. Sounds Russian's official mark is up to 145 but he did record a Racing Post Rating of 150 most recently.

Sounds Russian: raised a whopping 34lb for three chase winsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His wins have been on soft or heavy ground but trainer Ruth Jefferson is unconcerned by drying conditions and well aware of the task at hand for Callum Bewley's mount.

Jefferson said: "He’s done nothing wrong since going chasing and this will be a learning curve for him. He’s been winning well but he’s facing a far better calibre of horse here. He won’t disgrace himself and I’m not worried about the better ground for him."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Dusart
He ran very well in the Brown Advisory and he’s running back pretty quick but I didn’t fancy Aintree with him and this looked suitable. It ticks the left-handed box for him and the better ground will suit. He should have a good chance.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Doyen Breed
For the first time this season he'll get his ground, but it's incredibly competitive – as competitive as any race at the meeting. We think he'll run a big race, though.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Lord Accord
The ground was too soft for him at Doncaster and he’s well capable of bouncing back given his form on better ground.

Ben Case, trainer of The Golden Rebel
I gave him a break after his fall at Doncaster as he wants reasonable ground. He goes there fresh and in good order and his form this season has worked out well enough. He finishes his races well and came from the point-to-point sphere, so I don’t see returning to three miles being an issue. The track should suit him and it’s just a case of whether he’s up to this company.

Olly Murphy, trainer of IK Brunel
He has been trained for the race. He’ll like the big, galloping track and should run well at a big price.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Read all of Saturday's previews:

1.15 Ayr: Is it worth taking on the favourite Sebastopol in Listed handicap chase?

2.25 Ayr: Expert analysis and key trainer quotes for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr

2.45 Newbury: Which trainer thinks his mare will 'run a very big race' in Grade 2?

3.00 Ayr: 'It's a red-hot race' - novice chasers clash in Grade 2 Future Champions

3.35 Ayr: 'She's in great form' - Christian Williams on his leading Scottish National duo

3.35 Ayr: Runner-by-runner guide: key quotes and star ratings for Scottish Grand National

Is there another Poetic Flare lurking on trials day at Leopardstown?

Racing Post Live is your ultimate racing watchalong every Saturday and during major festivals. Our experts offer uninterrupted tips, analysis and reactions to the ITV action. Subscribe to the Racing Post YouTube channel here and never miss a minute