15:45 Ayr

Monday 27 February 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

racinguk.com/hd Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 7m 45.65s

Kilbree Chief¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

4/1

Winner of this race last year when defeating two of today's rivals (Nakadam and Jonny Eager) off a 1lb lower mark. Has run creditably since then including twice here, although he was well beaten by Jonny Eager last time out over this trip but is now better off at the weights with a fully-fledged pilot taking over the ride.

Form: 22212-8

Sevenballs Of Fire^p1¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 117

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler who is suited by testing conditions and a stamina-sapping trip; scored in those conditions here (3m3f) off 112. Since then has looked a harder ride, often racing in a very lazy manner. Fell on his chase debut and made very hard work here over 3m last time out (raced lazily again) and no surprise to see headgear for the first time today.

Form: 2F452F

Jonny Eager⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: A C Whillans| OR: 115

3/1

Beaten a fair way in this race last year when third to KIlbree Chief and Nakadam off a mark of 112. Had started to look disappointing and shown signs of temperament, when coming back to form last time out over C&D where he was possibly suited by a return to forcing tactics and testing ground, with Kilbree Chief well behind.

Form: 1322-66

Nakadam^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 107

4/1

Looked promising on his early runs for this yard over fences and won at Kelso last April in good style. Given a break after that win, his first two runs this season were disappointing before he bounced back here last time out in a narrow defeat over 2m4f with his stable now in much better form.

Form: 1-P8232

Finaghy Ayr^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: I A Duncan| OR: 102

9/2

Put previous modest form behind him when winning at Carlisle over hurdles over 3m1f; taking advantage of a reduced mark. Returned to fences last time out at the same venue off the same mark and put his previous efforts over the larger obstacles behind him. Raised 7lb for that win and possibly capable of better in this sphere.

Form: P/331-12

Smuggler's Stash^b¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 101

7/1

Only modest over hurdles but has come into his own over fences when given a real stamina test, winning over 3m at Hexham in December. Conditions have not been as testing in two subsequent starts but ran well last time out behind Finaghy Ayr and is better off at the weights.

Form: 54P331

Forecasts

Jonny Eager (3/1), Kilbree Chief (4/1), Nakadam (4/1), Finaghy Ayr (9/2), Sevenballs Of Fire (11/2), Smuggler's Stash (7/1)

A few of these have met before in a couple of contests and it may well be a case of who is at their best today. Last year’s winner Kilbree Chief doesn’t come here in quite the same form this time around and faces some decent and in-form rivals. Jonny Eager looked suited by the positive tactics last time out and even off his revised mark he needs respecting. NAKADAM steps up in trip after his narrow defeat last time out and with his yard now in good form, he looks to have a good chance of going one better now. Finaghy Ayr bids for a hat-trick but this looks a little tougher than his previous two starts, while Smuggler’s Stash would need this to turn into a real war of attrition to score. 1. Nakadam 2. Jonny Eager 3. Finaghy Ayr

Prize Money

1st: £4,874.002nd: £1,431.003rd: £716.004th: £358.00

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