Ayr racing tip: Rafferty’s Return ready to show his class
A view of Ayr racecourse
From a quiet Monday racecard, Tipstrr racing pundit Steve Jones is looking to get the new week off to a winning start with an eight-year-old who looks one step above his 11 rivals at Ayr.
13:50 Ayr: Coral Racing Bet Bundles Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 4½ furlongs)
This race is advertised as a Class 3 contest but Rafferty’s Return, who heads the handicap with an official rating of 124, faces a group of rivals rated up to 117, so he effectively competes against Class 4 opposition, and has a good chance of taking advantage because these conditions suit him ideally on this third run of the campaign.
He certainly shapes as if he is close to peaking because he comes here on the back of finishing third of 10 in a Class 3 handicap over 19.5 furlongs of testing ground at Wetherby 23 days ago, when he faced hurdlers rated up to 131 and the winner, second and fourth (who was seven lengths behind Rafferty’s Return) are now rated well in advance of today’s opposition.
Racing off a mark that was a pound higher than today’s, Rafferty’s Return was only 2.25 lengths behind the 131-rated runner-up, Molly Ollys Wishes, after racing prominently the whole way.
Having looked as though he might drop right out of contention in the closing stages, he rallied over the last couple of flights and was staying on strongly at the line.
If he can reach that level of form again now, as looks to be the case on the evidence of his latest run, then he will be hard to beat in this much weaker handicap, which is to be run under a very similar combination of conditions.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Mack The Man finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet
Suggested bet: Rafferty’s Return in the 13:50 at Ayr
- Tip advised by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
Of the others, the Irish raider, Ballycoose, looks a lively contender on the back of last month’s return from a 20-month absence at Navan, where he finished fourth of 17 in a 20-furlong handicap on testing ground.
Prior to his extended lay-off, he produced some useful form at this track, including a third of nine in a Class 3 staying handicap when running off three pounds higher than today, as well as his maiden success in this sphere, which he achieved on his first attempt over hurdles over two miles in December 2021.
Well-proven on this track, and with the stamina for further, he is still very lightly raced after only six runs over hurdles, and he has to be respected for a yard that does well here.
Next best bet: Ballycoose in the 13:50 at Ayr
READ MORE: Ayr racing tips: Best bets for Monday December 11
