POLITICAL TOWER can come out best in an interesting contest for the Levy Board Novices' Handicap Hurdle today at Ayr.

Rayson Nixon's 10 year old has given good service over fences winning 10 races and earning over £55,000 in prize money. His chase rating has steadily risen and he ran off a mark of 129 when a respectable fourth to Lord Dorcet last month at Doncaster.

It's true that Political Tower finished well beaten when last running over hurdles but that was when attempting to take on Penny A Day and Direct Route at level weights at Kelso.

Here he is able to run off his hurdles mark of 89 which must give him a leading chance against some ordinary opponents.

Political Tower has won four times over fences at Ayr and as a specialist twomiler he should have the necessary finishing speed. The forecast soft ground will also help.

Joe Shaw will have his supporters after going into a few notebooks, including those of the local stewards, when staying on from well off the pace to be around 20 lengths seventh of 23 to Durano at Wetherby last time.

And Running Green, fit from a successful spell on the Flat, is a danger with a featherweight. But the consistent Political Tower is a proven winner and is napped to take advantage of his favourable mark.

Joe Shaw's trainer Mary Reveley has better prospects with Monica's Choice in the River Doon Handicap Hurdle. A winner at Tramore last month when he beat Bakema by two lengths, the six year old should have the measure of this small field.

Best bet at Leicester is Tulu, who can see off some modest opponents in the Vicarage Claiming Hurdle. Lynda Ramsden's mare is a consistent sort and was in winning form on the Flat last summer.

She didn't score in a light campaign over hurdles last season but was keeping much better company than this. Tulu, who tends to run very well when fresh, has a big shout at today's weights.

She should be a backable price in a big field where the vast majority of runners can be safely discounted.

Selling class Sheecky has a mammoth task at the weights and the only serious danger is White Willow, though the latter ran miserably last time at Chepstow.

French import Elzoba can make a successful debut for Martin Pipe in the Thurnby - Maiden Chase. Pipe has done very well with similar animals in the past and not too much should be read into Elzoba's modest form across the Channel.

. John Manners is hoping for more rain to enable Killeshin to bounce back to form in Saturday's Tote Eider Chase at Newcastle.

His 11 year old was a five length winner of the four mileone furlong contest last year but has been well beaten in all three outings this term.