Friday is a much quieter day for racing than New Year’s Day with two meetings each over jumps and on the all-weather in the UK.
GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out our Lucky 15 best bets, with all four of our best bets running at Ayr on the day.
Ayr Racing Tips (Friday 2 January 2026)
Ayr hosts a busy seven-race card on Friday, with a mixture of novice hurdles and class 3 handicaps making up the contests for our lucky 15 selections.
12.30 Ayr – Coco Masterpiece (1pt win – 2/1)
He has been off for a long time and is old for a novice hurdler at the age of nine, but if Coco Masterpiece runs up to anywhere near the level he reached in bumpers, he can run a big race on his rules debut for Stuart Crawford. The Munir and Souede-owned runner won a point-to-point for Crawford in 2022 and claimed a bumper for Willie Mullins in February 2024 having not raced under any code for 666 days. There were some decent horses in behind that day, as there were when he was third in a Fairyhouse bumper behind stablemate Redemption Day on his most recent rules start. His career has not been straightforward and a hood is applied for this belated hurdles bow, but he is evidently a talented horse, so could easily feature if retaining his ability.
1.00 Ayr – Wilstar (1pt win – 9/2)
The hurdling debut of Wilstar was almost certainly too bad to be true in November and Olly Murphy’s charge is taken to leave that well behind here. The selection is a half-brother to no less than Jonbon and Douvan, and thus was an expensive E250,000 purchase two years ago. He does tend to be well-found in the market, going off favourite on all three starts, though he ran well in both bumpers, winning one easily, before tailing off on his first start over timber. He has had wind surgery since and his exemplary pedigree ensures he remains one to follow.
3.00 Ayr – Junker d’Allier (1pt win – 11/4)
Another promising type for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen, Junker d’Allier won three times in his novice hurdling season last term and retains a handicap mark he can win off now he has raced twice over fences. The six-year-old did not quite cut it in Pattern level races last season, but won every race below elevated company. He was up against it on chase debut at Uttoxeter against some strong rivals, but ran well at Carlisle last time out over 2m, with omitted obstacles ensuring it became more of a stamina test. As a result, this step up in trip looks a good move for his handicap debut, with a rating of 126 not unduly harsh.
3.30 Ayr – Phantomofthepoints (1pt win – )
Top-weight Phantomofthepoints could still be on a winnable mark here, just 2lb above his last winning rating from last season at Wincanton. David Pipe’s seven-year-old was third on his reappearance after wind surgery at Haydock in a 17-runner Grade 3 handicap, which is more than solid form, and he returns to the smaller obstacles after falling on his chase debut in a match at Uttoxeter. Given just a 2lb rise for that Haydock run, he should still be competitive, handles any ground, and 7lb claimer Rian Corcoran has enjoyed three winners from his previous seven rides, all of which have come for Pipe.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 2 January
12.30 Ayr – Coco Masterpiece (1pt win – 2/1)
1.00 Ayr – Wilstar (1pt win – 9/2)
3.00 Ayr – Junker d’Allier (1pt win – 11/4)
3.30 Ayr – Phantomofthepoints (1pt win – )
Coco Masterpiece Junker DAllierGG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 2 January
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Ayr – first race 12:30
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides GG’s Lucky 15 tips on Friday 2 January from Ayr.
When were today’s Aye tips published?
Our Lucky 15 tips for Friday were published at 3.30pm on Thursday 1 January.
Which racecourses run on Friday 2 January 2026?
Ayr, Chelmsford, Fakenham & Wolverhampton
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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