Ayr preview: Azamesse can leave Irish eyes smiling

Irish trainer John Feane has done well with his runners at Ayr, and Azamesse can provide him with another in the 1m 5f handicap on today’s eight-race card at the Scottish venue (16.25).

The Curragh based handler has a 50 per cent strike rate at the track in the last 12 months, saddling two winners from just four runners.

In Azamesse, he has a lightly raced filly who has made the frame in four of her seven starts and caught the eye last time out when third of 10 to Regal Ways over 1m 4f at Hamilton.

After travelling well on the heels of the leaders, the three-year-old got slightly outpaced when the tempo quickened three from home before keeping on again to be beaten three lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Azamesse may well have more to offer when stepped up in trip, and she gets that today.

The daughter of Azamour is also entitled to come on for the run, her first after 60 days on the sidelines, and having initially been rated 73 is now able to race off 10lb lower.

That makes Azamesse look well-treated on the pick of her form, and this is a weak class 6 contest which represents an excellent opening for her to get off the mark.

In the 7f handicap (17.00), Properus is a fascinating runner on his first start for trainer Keith Dalgleish and can go well at a big price.

The colt ran well on his first two starts as a juvenile when trained by Kevin Ryan before opening his account in good style when beating Sir Domimo by 1 3/4 lengths at Redcar.

Properus was allotted an opening handicap mark of 83 on the back of that success, and after joining William Haggas ran a blinder off it when chasing home Salt Island at Newmarket on seasonal reappearance.

After being held-up off the pace, Properus made headway a furlong from home and stayed on nicely without being unduly knocked about to be beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

The winner is a useful sort now rated 109, and Properus finished 1 1/2 lenhgth in front of the fourth home Magical Memory who is now rated 115 having gone on to score three times since and finish an excellent third in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.

That is very strong form and suggests that Properus should be more than capable of winning races off his current a mark of 84.

Although the son of Lord Shanakill has failed to fire in two subsequent outing, Properus has now joined a shrewd outfit and looks a big player if the move has freshened him up.

Selections:
13.40: In My Place
14.10: Carbutt’s Ridge
14.45: Lydiate
15.15: Poppy In The Wind
15.50: Belle Travers
16.25: Azamesse (NAP)
17.00: Properus (NB)
17.30: Mr Sundowner