Ayr best bets: You Say Its Over bidding to justify market support
Ayr racecourse
There’s a few in with a shout in this mares’ handicap, and with three miles of heavy ground to plough through, this stamina test could be a more open contest than the early betting market suggests.
16:45 Ayr: Coral Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3 miles 70 yards)
If the bookies have done their sums right, then we should be set for a two-horse race between Fiveafterfour and Joie De Vivre, with the former having beaten the latter into a six-length third when they were both last seen over a shorter trip here a fortnight ago.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Fiveafterfour wins by more than 8 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
Given the nature of this stamina test, however, there’s a few others in the field who look equipped to put a fly in the market leaders’ ointment, with Not Staying Long and Gypsey’s Secret both capable of building on decent frame finishes last time out.
However, the horse attracting most attention, both in the betting and within the Tipstrr community, is the bottom-weighted You Say Its Over, who has been knocking on the door of a maiden success all season, and has been backed down from as much as 14/1 on Sunday night to around 5/1 at the time of writing.
Suggested best bet: You Say Its Over in the 16:45 at Ayr
Five races during the summer yielded one runner-up spot in five outings, but it was when she returned from a two-month autumn break to face more testing ground that Micky Hammond’s six-year-old really came into her own.
Two second places in heavy conditions at Hexham before Christmas were followed by a third runner-up spot on the bounce in her first run of 2024 at Catterick, where she jumped well only to be passed by the favourite on the run-in.
Cheekpieces appeared to do her no favours at all when applied for the first time at Wetherby a month ago, and they have unsurprisingly been discarded here after she finished a disappointing sixth of 10.
Usual jockey Brian Hughes is booked to ride Not Staying Long here after being aboard You Say Its Over for her last six outings, but his replacement Conor O’Farrell has ridden this mare in the past and will be keen to make the most of his opportunity at a venue that has brought him 19 winners and 37 places from his last 153 rides here.
