15:50 Ayr

Friday 21 April 2017

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2016:5017:25

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 11.3s

Theinval^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148

5/1

Has put in a couple of very good performances in two of the most competitive 2m handicaps of the season of late and would not be winning out of turn now stepped back up in trip. Should not be far away from winning again.

Form: 413222

Warriors Tale^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

7/2

Chasing a hat-trick after back-to-wins at Newbury over this trip. Up a total of 13lb for those successes, but now he is on a roll there is no reason why he can't be bang there again.

Form: 05-1325

Two Taffs^p,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

3/1

13lb higher than when winning a handicap hurdle this time last year (good to soft) and although a maiden over fences, he has been placed in all four starts, including in the Close Brothers' at Cheltenham last time. Raised another 5lb for that and may again find a couple too good.

Form: 2341-17

Katgary^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 140

12/1

11lb higher than than when scoring by 7L at Perth (good to firm) in June, though just 3lb higher than when running subsequent Aintree winner San Benedeto to 1L at Doncaster last time. Ground is no concern, so should go very well.

Form: 3P5-512

Calipto³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 138

4/1

Sole chase win was 18 months ago on his debut in this sphere. Beaten 7L from 1lb higher in competitive Cheltenham Festival event last time and although he may be involved in the shake-up, others make more appeal.

Form: P6/1338-

Drumlee Sunset³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136

11/2

Back-to-back wins at Exeter in the autumn were a good launching pad for the season and has been competitive in all starts, including twice being runner-up from 3lb lower than this. Entitled to be bang there once again.

Form: 419-112

Indian Temple¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 133

33/1

Has won two of his last four over similar trips to this. Handles forecast ground well and goes well at this venue, so if you can forgive him his last effort, when beaten from today's mark, he has each-way claims again.

Form: 213/103-

The Grey Taylor^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 128

33/1

1-7 over fences and has failed to get competitive since the first-half of last season. Sliding in the weights as a result, though very hard to fancy in a strong contest like this.

Form: 7-675P6

Forecasts

Two Taffs (3/1), Warriors Tale (7/2), Calipto (4/1), Theinval (5/1), Drumlee Sunset (11/2), Katgary (12/1), Indian Temple (33/1), The Grey Taylor (33/1)

Two Taffs has progressed all season despite not winning and the same story may eventuate today. Katgary looks a player on the evidence of his latest start, while Drumlee Sunset and Warriors Tale both have claims. Even so, THEINVAL has been banging hard on the door in some very competitive races and can bag the decent prize his efforts deserve.