Ayr best bets: Outlaw Peter set for bold raid under Harry Cobden
- John Fearn
- 19 April 2024
The biggest prize on day one of Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting will be well earned by whichever of these chasers leads home their nine capable rivals in what promises to be a thrilling race.
14:50 Ayr: Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (2 miles 4½ furlongs)
It takes a brave bettor to back against anything coming from Dan Skelton’s yard these days, and Jet Plane looks no exception, having notched up four wins this season, the most recent of which was a 12-length romp at Market Rasen just nine days ago.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Jet Plane wins by more than 3 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
His stablemate Heltenham could pose a threat at decent odds, but his career-high mark could prove difficult to lug round, which leaves the Paul Nicholls-trained Outlaw Peter as the favourite’s main challenger.
Four wins as a novice hurdler set this able eight-year-old up nicely for larger obstacles, and he has enjoyed a fruitful first chasing campaign so far.
Suggested best bet: Outlaw Peter in the 14:50 at Ayr
He has bookended two frame finishes and a pulled-up effort with tidy wins at Newton Abbot in September (albeit beating just one rival) and most impressively at Kempton last time out a month ago.
He asserted himself strong in the final stages of that 0-150 handicap to finish over a length ahead of the Skeltons’ highly-rated Flegmatik, with their next nearest rival a further nine lengths adrift.
Outlaw Peter has duly been punished with a five-pound penalty, but jockey Harry Cobden still fancies his chances and has been singing his praises in his regular PlanetSportBet blog.
WATCH: Harry Cobden assesses his Friday afternoon rides at Ayr
Among the rest of this competitive line-up there are plenty in with a shout of causing an upset or at least forcing their way into the frame, and Donald McCain’s General Officer certainly fits that profile.
The seven-year-old has missed out on a frame finish just once in 12 career outings, and not at all since switching to chasing this season, having notched up two wins, three seconds and a third in his six efforts over fences.
He is now off a 10-pound higher mark than for the first of those successes in October, but he has so far not been adversely affected by his incremental weight raises, and it will be fascinating to see what regular jockey Brian Hughes can get out of him in this deeper contest.
Next best each-way punt: General Officer each-way in the 14:50 at Ayr
- Tip advised by TC’s Punts on Tipstrr
