Railwayman on track for Ayr success

There are several reasons to believe Railwayman will take all the beating in the Weddings At Western House Hotel Maiden Stakes at Ayr on Tuesday.

Trained by Karl Burke, the Blue Point colt cost 420,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Book One sale in 2024 and while that is no guarantee of success, it is usually a good guide.

It is no surprise he fetched so much given his half-brother, Oxted, won the King’s Stand and July Cup and being by Blue Point out of a Choisir mare the pedigree is all speed.

Unraced at two, his trainer Burke, who has begun this season just like he ended the last by banging in the winners, sent him to Leicester for his debut where he came up against a previous winner in Westport, who runs in the same colours.

While the previous experience of Westport paid dividends, Railwayman more than caught the eye through the race before losing second close home to another previous winner.

Out again quickly, Burke is clearly keen to kick on and it will be disappointing if he is beaten.

When Paul Mulrennan teams up with Jim Goldie at Ayr it is usually worth taking note and Ashen may be their best chance of a winner in the Sunday Lunch At Western House Hotel Handicap.

Having begun life handicapping off a mark of 74 for Marcus Tregoning, he initially struggled and changed hands for 30,000 guineas.

While his first three runs for Goldie may not have looked encouraging on paper, he was never beaten that far and stepped into a 0-80 last time out he finished third.

Down markedly in class to a 0-65 and off his lowest ever mark of 63, he should make an impression.

Roger Varian’s Bintaziza should have no trouble defying a penalty in the Get Raceday Ready Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.

The Study Of Man filly created a huge impression when winning on her debut up at Newcastle and giving weight away here should not be an issue based on that.

While there may have been little strength in depth to the race, she could do no more than win by 6.5-lengths and she looks above average based on that.

Magna has risen significantly in the handicap of late but there is no sign of her progress stopping.

This time last year her rating had plummeted to 47 yet she won last time out off 60 and is now going to run off 66.

Her trainer Tony Carroll is a master and getting horses like this on a roll, though, and it is worth taking the chance in the Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Fillies’ Handicap that she has not reached her ceiling yet.

Warren Greatrex had a much better time of things during the National Hunt season that has just finished but racing waits for no man and he can begin the new campaign with a winner through Buckna at Ffos Las.

He runs in the Sean Bowen Champion Jockey Handicap Chase and ironically is ridden by Bowen’s brother, James.

Twice a winner at Hereford, he was last seen finishing third at Chepstow last month so has race fitness on his side.

Jamie Snowden had his best season to date and can pick up where he left off with Maximum Offers in the CopyBet Supporting UK Racing Handicap Chase at Hereford.

He loves good ground and was a runaway winner at this track last time out. – Press Association

SELECTIONS:

AYR: Race 1 – 15.00 RAILWAYMAN (NAP), Race 2 – 15.30 Canaria Queen, Race 3 – 16.00 Ashen, Race 4 – 16.30 Dingwall, Race 5 – 17.00 Rajapour, Race 6 – 17.30 The Gay Blade, Race 7 – 18.00 Tupero.

FFOS LAS: Race 1 – 15.48 Berkshire Smudge, Race 2 – 16.18 Getaway Vic, Race 3 – 16.48 Hillwalk, Race 4 – 17.18 Buckna, Race 5 – 17.48 This Sway, Race 6 – 18.22 Jack’s Jury.

GOWRAN PARK: Race 1 – 18.07 The Publican’s Son, Race 2 – 18.37 Will You Stop, Race 3 – 19.07 Moody, Race 4 – 19.38 Faiyum, Race 5 – 20.08 Vauntingly, Race 6 – 20.38 Femme Beauty, Race 7 – 21.08 Kitty Bear.

HEREFORD: Race 1 – 18.42 Maximum Offers, Race 2 – 19.12 Whatcombe, Race 3 – 19.47 Double Click, Race 4 – 20.17 American Sniper, Race 5 – 20.47 Southey, Race 6 – 21.17 Kally Des Bruyeres.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 – 19.30 Prince Ali, Race 2 – 20.00 Bintaziza, Race 3 – 20.30 Zipwire, Race 4 – 21.00 Bear Steps, Race 5 – 21.30 Black Cab, Race 6 – 22.00 Magna.