16:00 Ayr

Monday 30 January 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:35

Racing UK Winter Season Ticket Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 47.0s

Tap Night^v1⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115

7/2

Former smart hurdler who has won off a mark as high as 140 (2m, soft, Ayr) but has yet to win a handicap over fences. Last ten starts have all come over hurdles (won at Musselburgh off 124) and has his first start over fences since April 2015 when he was ninth in a Listed handicap chase at Ayr when starting favourite. Well below form at Musselburgh last time out and overall is an unreliable sort.

Form: 5/62746-

Nakadam^p,t⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 105

4/1

Favourite when turning in his best performance over fences in his win at Kelso (3m2f) in April off a mark of 101 after looking unlucky when falling on his previous start. Given a break after his win and not seen out until October when he was pulled-up when well fancied at Carlisle (without the cheekpieces he had worn for last win) and may well have needed the race. Headgear back on next time out at Sedgefield when failing to fare any better and not seen since and has questions to answer on his return to action.

Form: 1-P8232

The Orange Rogue^t1²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 103

11/1

Is 1/13 over fences after failing to win in bumpers or over hurdles. Finally off the mark over fences when beating three rivals at Newcastle last April off a pound lower than he runs off today. Given a break after that victory and two starts since have been nowhere near that level of form although he could be excused the first of them (may have needed the run) but regressed last time out at Ayr over further. Looks a hard ride and has shown signs of temperament and one to be wary of.

Form: 3U231-7

Lowanbehold^p1³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Jan Faltejsek| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 101

5/1

Dual winning chaser in handicap company off higher marks higher than the one that he runs off today having won twice at Kelso. Has so far failed to fire this season and although the handicapper is cutting him some slack he needs to show more spark to be of interest.

Form: 3-P4354

Danehills Well^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 95

11/2

Winning point-to-pointer but 0/21 under Rules including being 0/7 over fences. Turned in a couple of reasonable effort at Ayr over C&D in November/December behind a well handicapped improver (Titian Boy) but failed to back that up last time when pulled-up at Wetherby. Runs off the same mark here (95) and it looks as though further help from the handicapper will be required.

Form: 15-2632

Dingo Bay^p⁶⁷⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 90

7/2

Comes back from a long absence (last run March 2015) and has his first outing for the Rebecca Menzies stable. Has won four times over fences (three times at Newcastle) but all off lower marks than today and although he acts in testing conditions he may well need this after being off the course for some time.

Form: P135P/P

Asuncion^b²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 81

9/1

Failed to win over hurdles (0/13) but has fared a little better over fences winning twice at Newcastle and Market Rasen off marks similar to today. Latest win came pretty much out of the blue and from 5lb out of the handicap and there was an element of her picking up the pieces after the leaders had gone too hard. Returned to a shorter trip (2m) last time at Ayr she failed to back up that slightly dubious effort and finished well beaten.

Form: 513542-

Non-Runners

Harleys Max⁷

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: S Corbett J: James Corbett

Forecasts

Tap Night (7/2), Dingo Bay (7/2), Nakadam (4/1), Harleys Max (9/2), Lowanbehold (5/1), Danehills Well (11/2), Asuncion (9/1), The Orange Rogue (11/1)

There’s no doubt that Tap Night is well handicapped but can he be relied on to give his best off a mark that is 9lb below his last winning one. Based on his recent form that remains a doubt even fitted with a visor for the first time although he did wear cheekpieces for his last win and has to be respected at this level. Like Tap Night plenty of others have questions to answer in this with Nakadam, The Orange Rogue and Lowandbehold all having something to prove after their latest starts. Asuncion found the shorter trip against her last time out and needs a strongly run race to be seen at her best. This may be best left to HARLEYS MAX who is no world beater but rarely runs a bad race at this level and has a rather more solid profile at this level than many here. 1. Harleys Max 2. Tap Night 3. Nakadam