Horse Racing Tips, Friday 11th March

14:30 Ayr: Landmeafortune @ 9/2 – 2 point win

The day’s first selection comes from Ayr, where it is the Martin Todhunter runner, Landmeafortune, who gets the nod in the 14:30.

Having had only eight runs over hurdles, this seven year old remains somewhat lightly raced and comes into this event on the back of a promising 2^nd place finish over the same course last time out. That last run (January) was the gelding’s only run in 2016, and there’s a feeling that connections may have been waiting for the right race. In this contest today they could’ve found exactly that. Given how strongly the selection stayed on last time out, the step back up in trip looks to be in his favour. Also, if we look through this horses’ record we can see that the softer the ground, the better the performance, so the forecast soft-heavy should be right up his street.

The victor of the race last time out was Hatton Springs and the pair will renew their rivalry once more in this contest, although Landmeafortune now has a 4lb pull in the weights and over the extra distance is fancied to come out on top.

Martin Todhunter is a trainer who boasts both a profitable record and a solid strike rate (20%) at Ayr, and it would be no surprise at all if he was able to increase these already impressive figures with Landmeafortune.

15:50 Sandown: Ayalor @ 4/1 – 2 point win

The 15:50 at Sandown is our second port of call on Friday afternoon, where Ayalor for Harry Fry is the one to be on.

Having won a 14 runner novice event in France, Ayalor made a very pleasing start to life in Britain when only narrowly beaten by a well handicapped sort at Chepstow. Despite showing signs of greenness, the French import ran with plenty of credit and after making steady progress, before challenging for the lead over the last flight, Harry Fry’s gelding stayed on well and was only just denied by the well backed favourite.

The ground, heavy (soft in places), seemed to suit well that day so there should be no worries there, and the given the manner in which he stayed on the six year old looks as though he should be well suited by today’s step up in trip. The fitting of a tongue tie should also play it’s part in helping to bring about what is likely improvement.

Harry Fry is currently one winner from one runner at the track this season and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if he was able to add to that with this one today. We are talking about a horse who could hardly have made a better start to his racing life in Britain, and, having had a month to recover and come forward from that, this hugely unexposed runner looks open to any amount of improvement and looks a decent bet to go one better this time around.

16:50 Ayr: Question of Faith @ 2/1 – 2 point win 

Onto the last selection of the day and for the second time this afternoon we turn our focus north of the border, where once again the runner to side with hails from the Martin Todhunter yard.

Question Of Faith has looked very much a horse on the up in recent times, and, having won nicely last time out over C&D, she looks to have been found another good opportunity here. The lightly raced mare has only had six starts over hurdles and is slowly but surely turning into a smart performer at this level.

Two runs ago the five year old ran a solid race to finish 2^nd at Sedgefield and was able to build on this when winning last time out over C&D. She did it well that day, and if anything the quality of that race, certainly in terms of strength in depth, looks superior to today’s encounter.

Rioja Day was the horse beaten into 2^nd (3 lengths) last time out and – in receipt of a 2lb swing in the weights – she is set to re-oppose the selection here. Having said this though, Question Of Faith gave away plenty of weight when the pair met previously and still won with something in hand, so it’s hard to see the slightest of swings making too much difference.

All in all we’re looking at a mare who’s in form, racing under what look optimum conditions and in a weak looking contest. Couple this with that fact that Martin Todhunter is a trainer who does well at the course and it becomes quite difficult to look past Question Of Faith, and therefore the mare is a worthwhile bet.