15:55 Ayr

Friday 10 March 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:3017:35

All 28 Cheltenham Races On RacingUK Handicap Hurdle (For The James Barclay Challenge Trophy)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 22.50s

Deepsand^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

7/2

Likes it around here, having won on both the Flat and in a maiden hurdle, the latter on heavy ground. Scored at Haydock in testing conditions in January, though took a heavy fall last time. If over that, then he is still 1lb below his highest winning mark and has claims.

Form: 0/241F4-

Baltimore Buzz¹⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Steven Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 115

9/1

Irish bumper winner last year (good to yielding) and runner-up in a Sligo maiden hurdle (heavy) on his debut in this sphere. Off the track and changed hands since well beaten in September but has claims and very interesting if there is money for him.

Form: 25-7126

Un Guet Apens⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 110

8/1

All three career successes have been under today's pilot, which may be significant given that he has not been on board for the gelding's last six starts over a three year period. Has clearly had his problems and seen only once in the past two years, when pulled up at Sedgefield in December. Well handicapped on his old form.

Form: 426635/

Circus Star⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 104

8/1

Age has not mellowed this keen goer who is now 13lb below his last win, which was over C&D (soft) in January 2015. Threatened briefly to nick a couple of races at Wetherby earlier in the season when again racing with the choke out but balance of recent form suggests he remains one to take on.

Form: 304-P34

Suprise Vendor³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 103

6/1

Great servant to these connections, having won 12 times from 2m to 2m2f and on all types of ground. Up 8lb for the most recent of those over C&D (heavy) and last win from a mark higher than this over hurdles was almost five years ago, so probably one to be taking on.

Form: 517517-

Benny's Secret^t¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Brian Harding| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

4/1

Won a soft ground bumper here two years ago, though a maiden hurdle (2m2f, good to soft) success at Kelso last spring was the only bright spot in 10 subsequent starts. Now lurking on a very workable mark and both career wins have come in March, although his trainer was quoted after Kelso saying that the better ground had helped him.

Form: 4FFU19-

Firstymini²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: S Mulqueen⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 102

40/1

Multiple winner in his native France, but unable to show anything in three starts at a variety of trips this season and has dropped 10lb as a result. Nonetheless, hard to fancy.

Form: 33-P096

Chapel Stile²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: A Nicol| T: N G Richards| OR: 99

4/1

Not managed to make any impression in three starts over hurdles. While his mark does not obviously lenient, it is one that his in-form trainer is more than capable of exploiting and a market check is advised in what is not a hot contest to be making a handicap debut.

Form: 86

Forecasts

Deepsand (7/2), Benny's Secret (4/1), Chapel Stile (4/1), Suprise Vendor (6/1), Un Guet Apens (8/1), Circus Star (8/1), Baltimore Buzz (9/1), Firstymini (40/1)

A few of these would be capable of winning this is they could be relied upon to produce their best. Chapel Stile should be watched in the market for any confidence now handicapping and under a feather racing weight, while Un Guet Apens is well in on old form, though is clearly a risky proposition. Deepsand should go close if over a nasty fall last time and the suggestion is BALTIMORE BUZZ, who comes here fresh and may be capable of striking on his first start for this yard.