Horses for courses is one of racing's oldest maxims and one of its most prudent.

It's fairly apparent that six furlongs on easy ground at Ayr bring out the best in Eastern Magenta. And Linda Stubbs' juvenile can notch his third win over that course and distance by taking the Joe Carr Memorial Nursery at the Scottish course.

The recent easing of the ground will be very much to his liking and he had underfoot conditions to suit when successful at the big Western meeting there in the middle of last month.

On that occasion my selection, who seems well drawn today, showed the right attitude under pressure in the closing stages to beat Toby Balding's Marker by half a length.

And, although 6lb higher in the weights this afternoon, that form has already been advertised by the subsequent successes of Linden's Lady and Valiant Romeo (twice), the third and fourth home respectively.

Ashleigh Baker has run some of her best races at this venue and is taken to go well at decent odds in the Lochranza Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

Alan Bailey's runner shaped well here last month in a race that wasn't really run to suit but the recent rain will be very much in her favour.

Several in this line-up can make the running so this should be a good test and, although 8lb out of the handicap, she ran a blinder when second in this race last year and looks a sporting nap.

Frankie Dettori's presence at the track should boost the attendance and the effervescent Italian is likely to go close on newcomer Admiral Collins in the opening maiden.

However, a wide draw coupled with lack of previous racecourse experience could just prove his undoing and he's reluctantly passed over in favour of Forest Magic, who shaped very well on his debut three months ago.

He's been given time to strengthen since that run and, as that form couldn't have worked out any better, is fancied to do the business from his favourable low draw today.

Ed Dunlop's Grizedale goes on easy ground and has been running well all season and should give a good account in the Arran Conditions Stakes over a mile in the hands of Kevin Darley.

With plenty of forecast rain in the Windsor area the ground could be on the soft side and this should suit Passion For Life, who looks to hold solid claims in the six-furlong handicap.

John Akehurst's sprinter is very well handicapped on the pick of his form from last year and he shaped with encouragement when last seen in August.

His low draw could well turn out to be an advantageous one if the rain does get into the ground and his yard got back among the winners at York on Saturday.

Big fields are also the order of the day at Leicester and it could be worth siding with Scarrottoo in the Parceline Delivery Apprentice handicap.

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