Racing by Tom O'Ryan

So Willing can live up to his name at Ayr tomorrow.

Trained near Darlington by Michael Dods, the two-year-old tackles the opening Ayr May Novices stakes and, after a promising first run at Redcar, looks sure to take plenty of beating in the hands of Dale Gibson.

So Willing was sent off at 14/1 on his debut, but belied those odds by finishing a creditable third to Red Charger, going down by less than two lengths after staying on well inside the final furlong.

The experience gained at Redcar will not have been wasted on So Willing, who can now clinch first-place honours.

Dods can also take the Ballentrae Handicap with Storyteller, runner-up in his last two starts.

Formerly trained by Lynda Ramsden, Storyteller has a poor win record, but he has been running really well recently. Runner-up to Mungo Park, one of his former stable-mates, at Beverley, he occupied the same position behind Kira at Thirsk two weeks ago, going down by only three-quarters of a length.

With Jason Weaver taking the mount tomorrow, Storyteller can gain an overdue success.

The featured Tote Handicap over seven furlongs should suit Almuhimm, who scored over this course and distance last August when trained by David Barron.Now with Mick Easterby, the six-year-old gave an encouraging display when fifth to the in-form Night Of Glass at Thirsk at the beginning of this month. He would not need to improve much on that form to make his presence felt here, and is awarded the nap vote.

Baylham stumbled badly leaving the stalls on his latest outing at Newcastle last week, and was unable to recover. Jim Goldie's charge had preciously performed with credit, and deserves another chance in the Kilmacolm Handicap, John Egan has the mount.

Lindsay Charnock is riding at the peak of his powers this season - the Norton jockey rode yet another winner at Redcar yesterday on 8/1 shot Musalse - and Total Tropix could add to his scoresheet in the Fenwick Maiden Claiming Stakes.Trained by Sue Bradburne, who is better known for her handling of jumpers, Total Tropix has shown some ability and deserves consideration in this modest contest.

At Brighton, Twin Creeks can open his seasonal account in the Shoreham Classified Stakes.

The Vic Soane-trained gelding finished a good fourth to Cantina in a warm handicap at Chester last time, but was promoted to second when the winner and third were both disqualified.

Although no match for Unshaken at Carlisle last time, Bella's Legacy turned in a sound effort to finish second, beaten four lengths.

Karl Burke's filly gets the opportunity to go one better in the Clayton Handicap.l Geoff Wragg today gave former favourite Gulland the go-ahead to run in the Vodafone Derby.

A trip to Epsom has put to rest the trainer's fears that the ground will be too firm for his colt and he has scrapped plans to switch the Chester Vase winner to Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.