Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle Ayr Guide 2023

2021’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Milkwood heads here for his third crack at this, having finished fifth last year after beating fellow runner Anna Bunina to the title in 2021. The nine-year-old hasn’t won a race since that success a couple of years ago and has struggled to impose himself at this sort of level since. Pulled up in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month too.

The 138-rated hurdler has a tough test here and 2021’s winner may have a tough time of it on Saturday afternoon.

John McConnell’s seven-year-old mare Anna Bunina travels to Ayr for the third time in her hurdling career, having previously finished second in this contest back in 2021, just under four lengths behind winner Milkwood but going one better last year to win.

Her last win over hurdles came at Bellewstown in July last year, winning 16-runner handicap but has not quite been in the same form since.

Decent couple of efforts on her last two outings, finishing second to Queens Brook in the Quevega Mares Hurdle (Grade Three) at Punchestown in February before finishing ninth of 24 in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month.

143-rated hurdler who had a decent year last year, winning class two Ascot handicap as well as third in the Christmas Hurdle (fair way away from Epatante and Constitution Hill) and seventh in Betfair Hurdle in February this year at 14/1. Makes his Ayr debut here off the same mark from last month’s County Hurdle, where he finished a good sixth at 80/1, not too far off winner Faivoir.

Should be competitive off the same mark as last month’s run. Gavin Sheehan does the steering on the eight-year-old.

Jonjo O’Neill sends one for the Scottish Champion Hurdle in the form of Soaring Glory, who won the Grade Three Betfair Hurdle at Newbury back in 2021 and listed Ascot race in the same year. Not quite been the same since, finishing fifth twice and pulling up during his three outings in 2022, including in last year’s Betfair Hurdle.

Hasn’t been seen for 112 days and hard to gauge whereabouts he is at after a disappointing year last year. One of the market leaders to have reservations about.

Brian Ellison sends six-year-old Salsada to the Scottish Champion Hurdle after a good start to her hurdling career, winning at Sedgefield on debut before a hat-trick of seconds at Musselburgh, Southwell and Doncaster before heading here. Most impressive run came last time out at Doncaster, finishing six and a half lengths behind Grade One winner Epatante in the Grade Two Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle over 2m.

Up nine lbs because of that run but would not be surprising to see her go well again considering that Doncaster effort. Not dismissed.

Nicky Henderson’s sole runner in the 2023 Ayr Scottish Champion Hurdle is First Street, who has recorded some decent efforts in good races over the last year or so. Managed second in last year’s County Hurdle at Cheltenham, a length off State Man as well as third in Betfair Hurdle and winning class one handicap at Newbury. 11th in this year’s County Hurdle was respectable and now arrives here as one of the top weights at 150.

His mark makes it harder to win here but cannot be dismissed for top stable and Nico de Boinville is onboard. Not discounted.

146-rated hurdler for Lorna Fowler who makes his second appearance over hurdles in 2023, after finishing second in the Kelso Morebattle Hurdle over 2m last month, two lengths behind winner Benson. He performed well in contests last year, finishing third in the County Hurdle behind First Street and State Man as well as third in Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade One) behind Three Stripe Life and Sir Gerhard.

Big player in this company on the back of his hurdling form throughout last year and his return in 2023.

Nicky Richards sends his seven-year-old gelding Parisencore to the Scottish Champion Hurdle for the first time, having ran at this course once in his career back in 2021, finishing second in a class four maiden hurdle.

Won three races in 2022, at Haydock, Perth and Wetherby and now makes the step into top company with his only previous run close to this level coming in Newbury class one handicap in November last year, finishing fifth (First Street in first).

Up two lbs following second-place finish at Musselburgh last time out at class two level. Tougher test here but one who cannot be dismissed in a fairly open Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The current market outsider for the Scottish Champion Hurdle is seven-year-old Royal Mogul, who has been in good form over hurdles for Donald McCain, winning two of his first four starts over obstacles at Catterick and Newcastle. Unexposed at this level (all runs at class three/four), but impressively beat 1/1fav Chase A Fortune by four lengths last time out and earns his step up here.

Tough ask on debut but form should not be underestimated on his handicap debut. Not totally dismissed.

Paul Nicholls’ trained Rubaud makes his Ayr debut here after winning at Kempton in February, beating Mullenbeg by just over a length to claim the Grade Two Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle. That was a good way to bounce back from his underwhelming display in this year’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, finishing tenth when priced at 8/1.

The five-year-old boasts a couple of wins at Taunton over hurdles to add to that Kempton success and looks well-placed to add the Scottish Champion Hurdle to his armoury here. Should be well in with a chance.

Dan Skelton sends one to Ayr here in the shape of French recruit L’eau Du Sud. The five-year-old made a good start to life over hurdles in France, winning at Pau and Auteuil before debuting for new yard at Haydock in November, finishing fourth. Since finished third on last two occasions, in class three at Kempton and then class two at Kelso before stepping up to graded company here.

Skelton has a good record in this race, winning it in 2016 so must be respected on graded debut. Bridget Andrews does the steering.