Free horse racing preview and tips for Saturday April 21
Anita Chambers is backing Vintage Clouds to make amends for just missing the cut at Aintree in Saturday's Coral Scottish Grand National.
Owner Trevor Hemmings expressed his dismay last week as Vintage Clouds missed out at Aintree, but compensation awaits in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
Such was his handicap mark he only made it to fourth reserve for the big race on Merseyside, but what was a negative for Aintree is a definite plus in terms of Ayr, and he really impressed in his prep event for this.
Running at the Cheltenham Festival, he finished just over six lengths behind Coo Star Sivola in a typically hot handicap.
A couple of jumping errors cost him valuable momentum that day and he really just ran out of ground to make up the deficit - something that should not be an issue over this four-mile trip.
Vintage Clouds could finish only seventh in this race last year, but the fact he lines up off a 7lb higher mark this time adequately illustrates that he is an improved horse and he appears to have been laid out for a contest such as this.
Fighting Irish can surprise hotpot Expert Eye by winning the Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
While Harry Dunlop's charge has a good chunk to find on official figures with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained market leader, he did nothing but improve last year and as a son of Camelot, he should be much more of a three-year-old type.
He was three times a winner last term, culminating in a Group Two success in France last October, and switching back up to seven furlongs can only be in his favour given the way he stayed on that day.
While owner Khalid Abdullah could be out of luck with Expert Eye, Gavota can raise the camp's spirits by winning the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.
She hit the bar a couple of times in Pattern company last autumn, enjoying no kind of luck in running when third in the Rockfel while she did not enjoy the best draw when only beaten a neck in the Oh So Sharp Stakes on her final outing of 2017.
Gavota is no doubt a Group-class filly and this heat can give her chance to stake her Classic claim.
Defoe's seemingly endless progression was derailed when raised to Classic company at the end of last year, but he can get back on track in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, better known as the John Porter.
He was unbeaten in four starts going into the St Leger, but for whatever reason he flopped on the big day, beating just one horse home in the Doncaster feature.
Defoe had previously proved more than capable at Group Three level, so dropping back to that standard is a positive factor and he showed last year he is capable of hitting the ground running when winning the London Gold Cup at this track.
George Scott has high hopes for Gilgamesh this season and he is well worth supporting in the Elite Racing Club Supporting Greatwood Spring Cup Handicap, while Humbolt Current will be the centre of attention in the first division of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes.
Owned by the Queen, he is still entered in the 2000 Guineas and has been nibbled at in the ante-post market on the big race.
Sporting Life tips:
AYR: 1.45 Double W's, 2.20 Braqueur D'Or, 2.55 Chesterfield, 3.30 Adrien Du Pont, 4.05 VINTAGE CLOUDS (NAP), 4.40 Soul Emotion, 5.15 Big Robin, 5.50 New Moon.
BANGOR: 2.10 Middlebrow, 2.45 Warthog, 3.20 Red Devil Star, 3.55 Cowslip, 4.30 Spirit Of Hale, 5.00 Gaucho Gil.
LIMERICK: 1.50 Rock Sound, 2.25 My Snowdrop, 3.00 Drayton Cross, 3.35 Cash In Mind, 4.10 Warnaq, 4.45 Remmy D, 5.20 Song Of The Sky.
NEWBURY: 1.25 Humbolt Current, 2.00 Defoe, 2.35 Gavota, 3.10 Fighting Irish, 3.45 Gilgamesh, 4.20 Infrastructure, 4.55 Shareef Star, 5.30 Adamant.
NOTTINGHAM: 4.35 Fareeq, 5.10 Hua Hin, 5.40 Mazboon, 6.15 Echo, 6.45 Chelsea Lad, 7.15 Loujain, 7.45 Jasi.
THIRSK: 1.55 Smart Illusion, 2.30 Tommy G, 3.05 Commander Cole, 3.40 Little Boy Blue, 4.15 Tuff Rock, 4.50 Pacific Fleet, 5.25 Symposing, 5.55 Kroy.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 6.00 Wahaab, 6.30 Swendab, 7.00 Island Cloud, 7.30 Ravenhoe, 8.00 Elysees, 8.30 Elgin, 9.00 Air Ministry
DOUBLE: Vintage Clouds and Fighting Irish.
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