Dave Nevison's horse racing tips: Prince can prove a charm

He has been very well backed the last twice which suggests real confidence in his ability, and those punters who went in heavily last time were more than compensated with victory at Thirsk.

I feel that win can be upgraded as runner-up Portelet Bay also looks like an improver and Tamaska showed good battling qualities to get on top. I am slightly surprised but encouraged headgear has been applied now, and I am assuming that is on the recommendation of Danny Tudhope who rides again here.

The west coast of Scotland appears to be about the only place that has avoided the recent rainfall and ground conditions will be similar to Thirsk. It will be interesting if the money comes again against these older exposed handicappers.

He has never backed up a victory before and that’s a slight worry, but a glance through his form gives reasonable excuses for that and, otherwise, there is every indication Zumurud can follow up his recent unpenalized win.

He is once again ridden by Ella McCain, who claims a 2lb bigger allowance now given this is not an apprentice event, and Zumurud is actually running in a lower grade handicap now by dropping into the 0-70 bracket for the first time.

He should get a decent pace as well and, though he has never run at Ayr, all his wins since his juvenile days have come around a bend so this track should suit him well. He has won on good to firm ground before, his yard have already had four winners this month and it is impossible to look past him.

The in-form horse in this race, he has run some of his best races over this course and distance and he gain his first win here over this track and trip.

His best run was over course and distance last year among four relatively uninspiring efforts, but he won well on his reappearance at Doncaster and did not have the best of runs when attempting to follow up at Lingfield. A slowly-run race did not suit him there and he was forced wide turning in, so probably did well to be third last time.

A fast pace should be guaranteed here, while Sean Levey is back on board for the first time after the Doncaster victory.