TRAINER Simon Earle is looking forward to the hat-trick-seeking Headly’s Bridge testing his powers at a higher level in the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase at Ayr.

The eight-year-old sluiced through the mud at Newbury and Towcester when winning twice in March and now makes an 850-mile round trip from Wiltshire for the feature event on the opening day of the Coral Scottish Grand National meeting.

Earle said: ‘‘He’s in really good form and we’re taking a punt with him – nothing ventured, nothing gained.

‘‘He jumped a bit right at Towcester last time, but we hope we’ve sorted that out.

‘‘He deserved a go in a better race and hopefully he’ll run well.

‘‘Really heavy ground is ideal for him, as he goes through it well and it inconveniences other horses.

‘‘He’s not going to get that on Friday, but he handles better ground fine.’’

Leading Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell is responsible for two of the nine runners, with top weight Tap Night joined by stable companion Quito Du Tresor.

Tap Night, owned by JP Mc- Manus and ridden by Tony McCoy, needs to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Russell said: ‘‘He was a bit disappointing at Cheltenham.

I think the big field was just too much for him on the day.

‘‘This race should suit him better, he seems in good form and he’s won around Ayr before, so fingers crossed he’ll run well.

‘‘Quito Du Tresor gets in with a nice weight and is in good form.

‘‘He wouldn’t want the ground too soft, but he deserves to take his chance.