Unlikely, but how racing could do with a drop of rain for Ayr on Saturday

Alan did not strike a blow with the small team which he sent up to Aintree last week for the Grand National meeting, but several of the horses did Barbury proud.

I have sensed no shortage of optimism in the camp this week  that we might yet finish the jumps season on a high, with a few solid chances at this weekend’s Scottish National meeting at Ayr, plus hat-trick seeking The Doyen Chief aiming to follow in the footsteps of Talkischeap and Potterman by landing the valuable bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on the final day.

Lack of rain has frustrated Alan no end and restricted his number of runners in the past month, so he will be playing a waiting game most of this week, holding off making his mind up as to the stable’s final declarations until he gets the latest going update from the various courses.

Hence, we’ll wait until tomorrow before previewing day one of Ayr, though we definitely won’t be seeing last year’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Favour And Fortune making the long trip north of the border this week, even though he ran his heart out to finish third in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Aintree last week.

That mistake three from home probably cost Favour And Fortune second place, but he was only beaten four lengths and has always looked the type to make an exciting novice chaser next season. Doubtless, he will be seen on the schooling grounds as soon as the weather breaks.

I also thought Helnwein ran by far his best race of the season when finishing seventh in the same race. He has been bitterly disappointing over fences this winter, but switching back to the smaller obstacles  he looked more like the horse he was last April when capturing the novice hurdle championship final at Sandown.

Having been still hanging on in there at the final flight, where he was disputing third place, the run-in proved too much for Helnwein, so it would come as no surprise if he dropped back to two miles and be aimed at something like the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock on May 10.