Today’s Horse Racing Tip – 1:45 Ayr 21 April

Today’s free horse racing tip runs in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase at 1:45 Ayr. This  12-runner Listed Race is run over two miles and a half a furlong, and the finishers will jump 13 fences.

It’s notable that Nicky Henderson has decided to give Theinval  another chance at Ayr today. The gelding was sent off favourite in a Listed handicap at yesterday’s meeting and was travelling well when badly hampered five fences out. The eight-year-old rallied from two out to run on for a creditable fourth after his chances had been ruined.

Theinval will be at the top of his game as demonstrated at the recent Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. He was placed in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last month and ran another fine race when runner up in the Red Rum at Aintree last week.

He’s a two time winner over fences and proved 12 months ago that he can take races close together when finishing runner up on consecutive days at the corresponding meeting at Ayr. The eight-year-old should find the underfoot conditions more to his liking than at Cheltenham and Aintree and is an each way recommendation for today’s racing tip.

Last year’s winner Vaniteux heads the overnight betting but has yet to shine since moving to David Pipe’s yard. The nine-year-old gelding has had six indifferent outings for new connections and is well held by Theinval on Grand Annual form. He’s down in the weights and the drying ground will suit but Pipe’s charge needs to show significant improvement to justify his odds.

Duke Of Navan is another previous winner of this race. The ten-year-old was victorious three years ago and has been lightly raced since. Nicky Richards’ gelding returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since when digging deep to land a good handicap at Doncaster in January. He looks capable of winning again but has never been successful off a mark this high.

Romain De Senam was runner up last year and won two handicap chases in the autumn but has struggled to cope in bigger handicaps at Cheltenham over the winter. The six-year-old ran here yesterday and is held by Theinval who finished nine lengths in front despite being hampered.

Dolos won on his chasing debut at Ascot in November and ran well when runner up in a Sandown handicap in February. However, he finished over 14-lengths behind today’s tip in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival and is only 3lbs better off today.

Dandridge, Forest Bihan and Ashoka have bits and pieces of form that give them chances but have just as many question marks.

The going at Ayr today is good, good to soft in places and the weather forecast is sunny with a light southerly breeze.

Theinval has shown he can cope with racing on consecutive days and is expected to be up with the pace throughout. It’s an open contest with three or four having claims on their best form but Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old looks a great bet to finish in the places or better.