Aspire To Glory heads all the way to Scotland this afternoon to run in the Division II Class 6 Classified Stakes (15:35) at Ayr for trainer Alice Haynes.

Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Aspire To Glory's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

It's been less than two weeks since we last saw Aspire To Glory in action at Yarmouth where he finished a pleasing fifth on Good to Firm ground. The good news is that today he is likely to get his much preferred conditions with a little more give as rain is expected at Ayr throughout the morning.

The going is currently reported to be Good, Good to Soft in places.

Despite finishing fifth last time out, the handicapper has dropped Aspire To Glory's handicap mark down by two pounds, bringing him to a mark of just 49, and given the fact he came very close to winning off a mark of 52 on his second run this season, there's plenty of hope that he can soon capitalise off his current mark.

A huge boost for Aspire To Glory's chances today is that world class jockey Hollie Doyle takes the reins for the first time, and her record at Ayr is positive to say the least. She's only had 47 rides at the Scottish track so far in her career, but from those she's ridden 12 winners (26% SR) and had a further eight finish in either second or third, so hopefully she can go close to adding another one to her winner tally today.

Hollie Doyle wins the Northumberland Plate in 2022 (Photo by: Grossick Racing)

Aspire To Glory has been in search of his third win for the club since January after winning back-to-back races on the all-weather at Kempton and Lingfield, but since returning to turf action in May, he's been in good form. He made his reappearance at Leicester where he finished fourth, and he followed that up with a second placed effort at Ripon. That run has since taken a decent form boost as the horse who finished fourth that day, Evelyn's Phoenix, has won twice since.

Raceday message from Alice Haynes

"Aspire To Glory heads to Ayr over the mile this afternoon, and goes there in good form at home. 

Yarmouth rode quick last time and he didn't fully let himself down on it, so this kinder surface and drop in grade will very much be in his favour. 

It's his first start at this level and he has more than enough ability to be winning races of this nature, as is reflected by his place in the betting market. We're delighted to have Hollie Doyle on board for the first time and we think she will suit him well. All in all we think he heads there with a really good chance of making it three career wins."

Aspire To Glory's Owners for the Day

As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Aspire To Glory's run at Ayr this afternoon.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Ayr Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Aspire To Glory and the Alice Haynes team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Aspire To Glory.

Today's Class 6 contest is worth £7,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,663.80 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £1,719.20 | 3rd: £858.90 | 4th: £429.80 | 5th: £214.20

Trainer and Jockey Statistics

Alice Haynes has been in the winners enclosure three times in the past two weeks, and she's a trainer to take note of when sending horses to Ayr. Over the course of her short career as a trainer so far, she's only sent 15 runners to the Scottish track, but those have included five winners (33% SR) and three placed efforts.

Hollie Doyle has been very busy over the past two weeks notching up 48 rides at racecourses up and down the country and over in France. From those efforts she's ridden five winners, with a further 11 having placed. She was riding at Deauville yesterday for one of their feature meetings of the season, and she finished 2nd and 4th in Listed and Group 3 contests for trainers Jane Chapple-Hyam and Mrs John Harrington.

At The Races | Verdict

Course regular Retirement Beckons would undoubtedly be a popular winner and he arrives with a chance now eased in class, but it is ASPIRE TO GLORY that gets the nod. Alice Haynes' gelding has been running with credit in handicap company of late so he looks to hold every chance on these terms. Keep Me Stable drops into classified company for the first time and she is no forlorn hope.

Today's Opposition

• Retirement Beckons is the only C&D winner in the field who won this contest last year for the Linda Perratt team who also run Keep Me Stable.
  
  
• Loom Large will be looking to improve upon his fourth place finish at Redcar last time out, but the rain possibly won't be doing him any favours as the majority of his previous form has been on decent ground or on the all-weather. Trainer Ian Jardine landed a four-timer at Ayr on Saturday, so he'll be hoping for more success today.
  
  
• Showmethewayhome finished fourth over course and distance back in July and put in another decent performance over further last time out on the all-weather at Newcastle, but he's another one with a question mark regarding the potential softening ground.