Among the things we have to look forward to in 2015 is the race-off in the Champion Hurdle between THE NEW ONE and FAUGHEEN, the machine (as he’s been dubbed).

With luck we’ll get to see SPRINTER SACRE return to the track and if we are fortunate we’ll see the triumphant King George winner SILVINIACO CONTI justify his favouritism and win the the Gold Cup.

There are a truck load of good horses and good races to tide us over the winter chill of January. But such is our luck it is a chilly Ayr our gaze falls on this week.

So, saddle up, adjust the girth, toe in to stirrups, heels down and let us kick on to victory for the £10’000 Class 3 hurdle which comes under starters orders at 3.10pm at Ayr on Friday.

To be raced over 2m 4furlongs on going currently described as soft, trainer Philip Kirby’s 10 year old STOPPED OUT tops the weights in this 0-140 handicap. Having gone up to a career high mark after a gutsy five length win at Carlyle i would have to be a layer rather than a backer of this reliable and thoroughly genuine gelding.

Jim Goldie’s ARCTIC COURT is hovering on a winnable mark and that might tempt you in but i ordinarily wouldn’t be backing him until he’s running over 3 miles on good ground. However, and it is a big however, ARCTIC COURT goes well fresh, has a reasonable record at the the track and could easily run into a place if he’s fully wound up after a break of 265 days.

Another ‘however’. He’s entered to run at Musselburgh on New Years day, his preferred track. Should he line up there i would not hesitate to back him as he loves the track and the ground will be a lot drier on the east coast and the longer trip will be tickety-boo for the horse.

You would expect to see an exciting handicap prospect like MIJHAR in the mix. John Fergusson’s seven year old gelding and ONE FOR HOCKY we fancy to fill out the first and second position. The manner of MIJHAR’S very credible 3rd to DAWALAN last time out at Aintree suggest he’ll want further, but he handled a flat left handed track very well, jumping low and long at times - though prone to the odd mistake. MIJHAAR i stepping down a level for this race and that might just give him an edge over Nicky Richards ONE FOR HOCKY who is stepping up in grade on his upward curve to better things. The drop in trip is no issue for HOCKY as he has winning form at this middle distance.

Like ARCTIC COURT, MIJHAAR has a preferred entry at Cheltenham on New Years day. I’d back him in that race if he runs.

So MIJHAAR is a small bet for the Ayr race; ONE FOR HOCKY becomes the bet should the first choice defect. ARCTIC COURT at Musselburgh on the 1st Jan is worth a bet if he runs, but should he go at Ayr over an inadequate trip then it would be a very small each way stake for us.

Now that has got the New Year off to a complicated start i am off to have another mince pie, perhaps a sherry, and definitely some dreams of Cheltenham to come.

A happy New Year to you and yours.

Always gamble responsibly.

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