SKILLWISE, a horse in form, should not be missed at Ayr tomorrow.

The Tim Easterby-trained gelding lines up for the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase and is strongly fancied to follow up his impressive success at Haydock last Saturday.

Skillwise has greatly benefited from several of the top horses coming out of this race, which has resulted in the weights going up by a colossal 18lbs, putting him at the foot of the handicap.

Easterby looks set to enjoy a lucrative afternoon because he also saddles Simply Gifted - a good third at Aintree last time - in the LG Air Conditioning Novices' Chase. The six-year-old will relish the good going.

The opening card of the two-day Scottish National meeting kicks off with the James Barr Novices' Hurdle, in which Ebinzayd is fancied to add to his impressive seasonal tally.

Len Lungo's gelding has been defeated only once in four starts and comes here after a smooth win at Musselburgh, where he appreciated the sort of ground he will experience again tomorrow.

The classy Razer Blade, a winner at this meeting last year, will be a tough nut to crack in the Royal Bank of Scotland 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. Mick Fitzgerald takes the mount on Nicky Henderson's Lambourn raider.

Armchair punters can look forward to three televised races from Newbury on BBC2, with the £35,000 John Porter Stakes taking pride of place.

This Group 3 contest looks a tricky race to solve, but St Expedit, a Pontefract winner last season, who went on to finish second in the Predominate Stakes and seventh to Sinndar in the Derby, makes plenty of appeal. Geoff Wragg's colt looks the type to enjoy a fruitful four-year-old campaign.

As for the nap selection, that is awarded to Danielle's Lad, a horse who did us a good turn or two last season, in the Tote Ten To Follow Rated Handicap.

Bryn Palling's sprinter made an encouraging start to the campaign when finishing fifth to Ellen's Lad in a non-handicap at Nottingham and now has a 15lb pull with that rival.

Although six furlongs, rather than tomorrow's five, probably suits him better, Danielle's Lad is selected to oblige on his favourite soft ground.

Tomorrow's tips:

Ayr

2.20 Ebinzayd

2.50 Simply Gifted

3.20 Majed

3.50 Skillwise

4.20 Razer Blade

4.50 Noyan

5.20 Doctor Goddard

NEWBURY

2.10 Time Royal

2.40 Goggles

3.10 Danielle's Lad (NAP)

3.40 St Expedit

4.10 China

4.40 Fallen Star

5.10 Anikitos

Updated: 16:15 Thursday, April 19, 2001