Elliott on the mark at Ayr Layla Joan was the sole Irish winner at Ayr this afternoon, the Gordon Elliott trained mare taking the opening contest, the BetVictor Merseyside Derby Red Card Refund Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Having won a point-to-point on her second start at Glenbane in October of last year, the six-year-old daughter of Oscar got off the mark on her first racecourse appearance, taking a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. Sent off the 4/11 favourite to follow up this afternoon, the Jason Maguire ridden bay was held up in rear in the early stages before making headway six out. She was ridden on the approach to two out, getting to the front before the last, and drawing clear on the run-in to score by three and a quarter lengths. Nosey Box (17/2) finished in second under Derek Fox for Derry trainer Noel Kelly, while Midnight Streaker finished a well beaten fourth under Tony McCoy for Benjamin Arthey. The Stuart Crawford trained McLovin was well-fancied to take the second, the BetVictor Non-Runner Free Bet Cheltenham 2014 ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle, but he could only manage a well-beaten second behind the 7/4 winner Final Assault. McLovin was sent off the 6/4 favourite (opened on-course at 13/8) for the two mile contest, after he put in an eye-catching run to finish second at Navan last time out. Ridden by Steven Crawford, it was apparent the son of Winged Love wasn’t going to justify favouritism before the last as he was struggling in third, and he was then left in second with The Orange Rogue falling at the last obstacle.
