What you need to know to start your day including going from all the tracks

It may be Monday but there is a Classic participant in action at Ayr today where Kentuckyconnection tries to end a 13-race losing streak.

The four-year-old ran way better than his 100-1 odds to finish fifth in last year's 2,000 Guineas but despite some decent efforts since has not added to his winning score since he made his debut.

He is one of the better known runners on a well supported eight-race Ayr card that has plenty to banish the Monday blues.

It is one of two afternoon meetings with the other fixture coming from Ripon before the evening session of racing from Windsor and Wolverhampton, plus jumping in Ireland at Ballinrobe.

Going report

Ayr
Good (GoingStick 7.7 at 6.30am on Monday)

Ripon
Good (Good to soft in places; GoingStick 7.7 at 5.45am on Monday)

Windsor
Good to firm (Good in places; GoingStick 7.9 at 6.30am Monday)

Wolverhampton
Standard

Ballinrobe
Soft

Market movers

Fire Leopard4.00 Ripon
7-2 (from 9-2)

David O'Meara's three-year-old has been improving with each run, and posted a career-best RPR of 71 when third last time out at Thirsk. That form has been boosted with the runner-up that day, Sheriff Garrett, going in next time at Wolverhampton.

Leonard Thomas 4.30 Ripon
12-1 (from 18)

Not since last December has this seven-year-old made it into the winner's enclosure, and during that time he joined Philip Kirby from Tony Carroll. He is off a career-low mark of 50, and was not disgraced last time when fifth at Catterick.

Barbarianatthegate 7.40 Windsor
6-1 (from 9)

It is easy to forgive this juvenile his run at Goodwood last time when last of 14 as it was on soft ground and he was hampered as well when dropping out of contention. Back on a quicker surface, if he returns to the level of form shown in novice races at Chelmsford and Redcar, he could be a threat.

What to back

Richard Birch has three fancies for today's action that members can find here, while Adam Maidment has a banker at Ripon.

What to read

A busy weekend of Group and Grade 1 racing on the international scene is thoroughly covered in reports on Aidan O'Brien's 16th Phoenix Stakes win and a dogged victory in the Prix Jacques Le Marois for Frankie Dettori.

Elsewhere Mark Johnston tells Graham Dench of the unwelcome and unpleasant abuse both he and his son endured following Permian's death in the United States where he was contesting the Secretariat Stakes.

What to watch

If the first weekend of the Premier League hasn't whetted the appetite, here is a reminder of what the best brains at the Racing Post tipped before a ball was kicked.

The best of Racing Post Sport

Tennis expert Aaron Ashley has an ace bet for the ATP event in Cincinnati and he has also run the rule over the women's draw. Check out his recommendations.

Final thought

Jamie Spencer's Deauville victory on God Given was only his second Group win of 2017 but may be get the chance to step in for the injured William Buick after also riding a Listed winner for Charlie Appleby.

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