'We were waiting for a good one to name after Usyk' - bumper runner carries heavyweight expectations at Market Rasen

Punting pointers for Sunday's meetings . . .

Ayr: Walker comes to town

The Scottish track has never been a regular hunting ground for Ed Walker, but with a bit of rain in the ground the multiple Group 1-winning trainer sends his first runners there this year.

Walker has only had 27 runners there since his career began 15 years ago, with three winners there in that time period and only one representative there last year. However, he has two runners on the seven-race card.

The first of those is River Spey in the 6f maiden (2.20). The Jim and Fitri Hay-owned juvenile finished fifth on his debut at Newbury last month.

Speaking in his exclusive Racing Post Weekender column, Walker said: "River Spey ran well on his debut at Newbury and he should take another step forward on Sunday."

Walker's other runner on the card is Desert Heart, who has finished fourth in his three starts, in the 1m2f handicap (4.05). Both runners will be ridden by Kieran Shoemark.

River Spey14:20 Ayr

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Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: Ed Walker

Desert Heart16:05 Ayr

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Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: Ed Walker

Ayr stat: Sean Kirrane

The jockey is 3-4 at Ayr this season and Eve's Boy is his only ride at the track (3.30) on Sunday.

Market Rasen: Usyk ready for another bout

Oleksandr Usyk is gearing up for a huge boxing fight at Wembley this month and the horse who shares his surname will be bidding to land his own knockout blow on the track.

The Ukrainian is set to clash with Daniel Dubois again on July 19, while Tyson Fury also said this week he will come out of retirement to battle him in a trilogy fight next year.

However, before all of that, the racehorse Usyk bids for his first win in the 2m½f bumper (5.30). Trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies and owned by the latter, he was fourth on his debut at Newton Abbot last month.

Willy Twiston-Davies said: "He ran well at Newton Abbot. It should've brought him forward a lot, and it looks like it has so hopefully he can run well. I'm a big boxing fan, so I've been waiting for a nice one to name after Usyk."