IT may be a muted start to the Ayr Western Meeting, with no fewer than five Class 5 races on today’s opening card, but Richard Fahey won’t care if, as expected, he makes a flying start to one of his favourite gatherings of the year.

The Malton trainer is sending a huge team of horses to Scotland for the three-day fixture and can make a major impact this afternoon. He kicks off with Farham in the opening British Stallion Studs Novice Stakes.

The Smart Strike colt, owned by Al Shaqab Racing, made a bright start to his career when finishing second in a maiden race at Sandown in July over seven furlongs.

A big, strong-galloping horse, Farham is fancied to be well suited by this step up to a mile and, although he meets two previous winners, Tony Hamilton’s mount is napped to prevail.

Fahey and Hamilton can follow up with Fullon Clarets in the SM Signs Maiden Auction Stakes, but the Musley Bank runner has plenty to fear from his stablemate Spirit Of Zeb, the mount of Jack Garritty. The pair have similar claims.

Spirit Of The Law could be another Fahey-trained winner, with Garritty on board, in the featured £25,000 William Hill Handicap.

Nothing if not tough and consistent, Spirit Of The Law, a York winner in mid-summer, finished second to Queensbury Rules on Knavesmire on his latest run and occupied the same position on his previous start at Doncaster. He faces some stiff opposition, which includes two of his stable companions, Hi There, winner of this race last year, and the hat-trick seeking Ingleby Symphony.

Mick Easterby loves winners at this meeting and the Sheriff Hutton trainer, successful 12 months ago with Boris Grigoriev in the Wallace McDowell Handicap, has a fighting chance of landing the corresponding event with Be Lucky.

Although the four-year-old has not exactly advertised his prospects in his recent outings, he is a capable horse at his best and he figures on a decent mark judged on the best of his form last season. Graham Gibbons takes the mount.

Old Man Clegg has a more obvious chance for Easterby in the first division of the Quality And Value At The Irish Yearling Sales Handicap.

The four-year-old got back in the winning groove at Newcastle recently and looks capable of defying a 4lb higher mark under Barry McHugh.

Easterby and McHugh can also land the second leg of this seven-furlong event with We’ll Deal Again.

Although there are stamina doubts over this seven-year-old, who normally runs over six furlongs, We’ll Deal Again has been in an excellent vein of form, finishing fourth at Thirsk and second at Pontefract since getting his head in front at Thirsk in late summer.

Brian Ellison is another North Yorkshire trainer with good prospects of figuring on the Ayr scoreboard. He saddles Almuheet in the Hill House Quarry Supporting The Ayrshire Hospice Handicap.

The three-year-old was beaten only a short head at Redcar last time out after filling third place behind Master The World in a warm race at York’s Ebor Festival. He should go well under excellent 5lb claimer Megan Carberry.

At Pontefract, Cosmic Halo, a Fahey-trained winner at York on The Press Family Fun Day 11 days ago, turns out under a 6lb penalty in the Book Your Christmas Party Here Handicap.

Paul Hanagan gave Cosmic Halo a superb waiting ride to win at York - in a race which the mare had also won the previous year - and it is now George Chaloner’s turn to shine on the five-year-old.

The in-form Mick Appleby-trained Guishan (4.00), who is chasing a four-timer, and Peace Accord (5.30), who has likewise won his last three races, are two others to note at the Yorkshire course.


Selections

Ayr today

1.40 Farham (NAP), 2.10 Fullon Clarets, 2.40 Be Lucky, 3.10 Almuheet, 3.40 Old Man Clegg, 4.10 We’ll Deal Again, 4.40 Spirit Of The Law, 5.10 Always Resolute.

Pontefract today

2.30 Clergyman, 3.00 Fazza, 3.30 Cosmic Halo, 4.00 Guishan, 4.30 Aiyana, 5.00 Arsenale, 5.30 Peace Accord.

Today’s other meetings: Yarmouth and Kempton.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Ayr, Newbury, Newton Abbot and Worcester.