I'm not sure why we're so unlucky with non-runners on the Lucky 15 page, but once again, we were hit by a non-runner.
Three of them ran; one was a winner. The other two weren't the greatest, but hopefully Sunday's had all four run, and they run well.
Abu Royal 15/2 (3pl) – Ayr 3.50
This is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff at Ayr. Abu Royal has only got one win to his name, and that came at this venue.
It's interesting that they've come back to Ayr, as he hasn't been at this track since his sole success. He has swapped trainers on a couple of occasions, and this is a rare flat runner at Ayr for Laura Morgan. His form isn't anything to get excited about, but that's usually the case with Class 6 horses. Maybe the return to Ayr will revitalise him.
Onemorenomore 7/2 (3pl) – Southwell 2.32
I tipped up Onemorenomore at Doncaster last year; he was well-backed into joint favourite that day, but didn't get the job done. Doncaster has been the place where he has gotten the majority of his wins, but a couple of runs later, he came to Southwell and won.
Knowing that he likes this track, and on a dangerous handicap mark, there's a lot to like.
He ran well at Doncaster last time out, which shows that he is in good form. 7/2 is a fair price.
Baltic 14/1 (2pl) – Southwell 4.50
It's a leap of faith to be backing Baltic on the back of his first two runs for Lucy Wadham, as they have both been poor. Jamie Spencer has ridden him once before, on his first start for Lucy, and is booked again.
On his old form, he would win this race in a canter. He is lowly rated on his old exploits, and in what appears to be a fairly ordinary race, I'll take a chance that Spencer can work his magic from the rear.
Sax Appeal 4/1 (2pl) – Southwell 5.55
I was shocked to see Sax Appeal run so well in the Northumberland Vase handicap at Newcastle last week, but that is the best piece of recent form.
He has a solid record at this track, with three wins from seven appearances. What we know from the Johnston yard is that they will likely run from the front, and in a small-field event like this, that can be extremely beneficial.
If he puts in a repeat performance of last time out, then we should be bang there at the finish.
GambleAware