FROST still threatens Ayr's meeting, which must pass a 6.30am inspection if the action is allowed to proceed.

One of the leading trainers at the track hoping that the fixture will get the green light is Nicky Richards, represented by Lord Jack (2.25) in the £10,000 Mary Queen Of Scots Handicap Chase.

Nicky's seven-year-old chaser has won two of his three races so far this term, although at Sedgefield his backers had to endure a nail-biting finale when the gelding lost his place at the penultimate fence, prior to staging a never-say-die late rally to pull the race out of the fire.

Having shown so much courage when the chips were really down, jockey Brian Harding will have no fears about making plenty use of Lord Jack, who stays forever and is certain relish the predicted heavy ground.

Chris Grant has been struggling for winners lately, however that could all be about to change if Reverse Charge (3.25) and Baron Monty (3.55) oblige in the final two races.

At first glance Reverse Charge doesn't appear to have particularly rosy prospects having been pulled up at Market Rasen last time out. Grant's ten-year-old was never in the hunt that day and he's better judged on his previous run at Wetherby where he finished third in a far superior contest.

Baron Monty, owned by Blackpool Tower magnate Trevor Hemmings, made a most encouraging debut at Newcastle when fifth in a warm looking bumper. Lack of peak fitness proved to be his Achilles Heel at the Tyneside track, a problem not likely to be so evident now he's got a run under his belt.

In the opener at Folkestone, the two-mile-five-furlong Betfair.com Handicap Chase, Spilaw (12.45) has an outstanding chance.

Formerly trained in France where he picked up a couple of races, Spilaw opened his UK account at the Kent course a year ago last October when romping away with a two mile chase by fourteen lengths.

He has failed to add to his tally since, but unlike many of his rivals Spilaw acts well at the course, appreciates the testing underfoot conditions, plus goes exceptionally well for conditional rider, Russ Hobson.

Not to many ex-November Handicap winners of the calibre of Batswing (2.05) turn up on the Fibresand at Southwell.

Brian Ellison's eight-year-old is far better known as a chaser these days, winning a valuable race over fences at Punchestown in 2002. He's a class act and might easily make short work of his rivals in the Betdirect Handicap.

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