Alan Thomson’s Racing Tips: Mafaaheem can walk on Ayr

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MAFAAHEEM (4.25) may turn out to be the best bet on the card at Ayr.

The four-year-old hacked up 11 lengths on heavy ground from Raining Stars and Zeelander in a Nottingham maiden last season and chased home Society Red at York when last seen in June.

Trainer Owen Burrows will have him tuned up for this return to action. The heavier the better for mudlark Indian Chief and he could go well at a nice price.

MAJOR JUMBO (3.50) has been knocking at the door all summer and can bag the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup for northern trainer Kevin Ryan.

Probably his best run came in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot when just outpointed by Bacchus and Dreamfield, and apprentice Finley Marsh is an interesting booking taking off 5lb.

He handled soft ground when third at York last May over an inadequate five furlongs and stall nine seems a fair pitch.

Ryan saddles three other runners and Teruntum Star could well outrun his big odds. He has won twice at Newmarket on soft ground and there was also cut in the ground at Doncaster last autumn when fourth to Dream Of Dreams, with classy Sir Dancelot fifth. He disappointed at Ripon last time but is well handicapped these days.

Growl, runner-up to Ryan’s class act Brando in 2016, is 2lb lower and is likely to play a prominent role for Richard Fahey.

The Silver Cup may provide a clue to the effect of the draw and QUICK LOOK (2.40) can give his backers a run for their money from stall 12.

Twice a winner on soft ground, Mick Easterby’s Quick Look is on a hat-trick following wins at Ripon and York. Easterby has another fancied candidate in Rapid Applause, so unlucky when returning from a break at Sandown.

The locals could have something to cheer in the opener, with the Keith Dalgleish-trained CABALLERO (1.25) looking to build on his easy success in a Musselburgh maiden.

He raced clear of Tom Dascombe’s Starfighter and the Ralph Beckett-trained Buriram through the final furlong and is bred to go on a soft surface.

LUALINA (5.00) split useful Oh This Is us and Lake Volta at Chester earlier in the month and was a clear-cut winner on soft at Musselburgh back in March. The gelding also ran very well behind Get Knotted at York when the track was riding deep.

NEVER SURRENDER (5.35) seemed to handle heavy ground at Haydock when hunting up Reshoun and can give a good account of himself in the closing 1m 5f handicap. Sepal made no show at Doncaster last week but conditions are right up his street.

At Catterick, NEW SOCIETY (4.10) catches the eye in the 1m 4f handicap. With four of the seven runners racing from out of the handicap, the finish should be fought out by course and distance winner New Society and Star Of The East.

Jamie Osborne has his string in good form and PREACHER MAN (4.45) should justify fairly short odds. His three-year-old only yielded close home to odds-on Wufud at Ffos Las.

Recommended bets

• Ayr 4.25 – Mafaaheem (11-2 ew, BetBright)
• Ayr 1.25 – Caballero (7-1, bet365, Ladbrokes, Coral)
• Ayr 2.40 – Quick Look ew (11-1, William Hill)
• Ayr 3.50 – Major Jumbo ew (16-1, bet365)
• Ayr 5.00 – Lualina (11-2, Coral)
• Ayr 5.35 – Never Surrender (8-1, Paddy Power)
• Catterick 4.10 – New Society (4-1, bet365)
• Catterick 4.45 – Preacher Man (4-6, Skybet)

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