17:25 Ayr
Saturday 24 June 2017
All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:1016:5017:25
Leith Handicap
- 3YO plus  |  Class 4  |  6f  |  Good (Good to Firm in places)  |  7 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:27Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 13.95s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Winner over C&D who looked to come back to his best last time here over 5f on soft ground behind My Name Is Rio who runs earlier on the card. Has won three times over this trip so the step up by a furlong won't be a problem and he's slipped back below his last winning mark.
Comes back from a fair break here having proved consistent in the earlier part of the year on the AW but has shown in the past that he can be effective on the turf. Should prove competitive but is still 4lb above his last winning mark and that sets him a stiff enough task and he's more than likely to need some help from the handicapper.
Shapes like a really improved type this year having won twice already and showed hi s best form last time when taking a 6f Hamilton handicap from a next time out winner. No reason why he won't run another sound race here although he is now up to a career high mark of 85.
Quite a rare Flat runner for his predominantly jumps based yard and he shaped well on his first start for them at Catterick over 7f very much leaving the impression that he would be suited by stronger handling that he will get here. Five-time winner last year and has been successful over this trip so of interest off this mark (75) given his latest run.
From a yard that has been in decent form all year this one has summed up the form of the yard running consistently well all season. Showed his best form when winning at Catterick over 6f landing a 1-2 for the stable beating his stable mate Meshardal (a subsequent hat-trick scorer) and still well below his highest winning mark and well respected here.
The other three-year-old in the field he was a winner as a juvenile on his second start over 6f at Redcar in October. At the moment he's not looking as though he's progressed this year with the two starts so far looking fairly modest.
Surely needs no introduction here with all his wins having come at his "home" track with five of them over C&D. Can be rather a quirky performer and although he's always to be respected around here this does look a little tougher than the races he's usually contests and a ninth course win may have to wait.
Non-Runners
6
(3)
Buccaneers Vault19
Weight: 9-7|Â Â Age: 5
T: P T Midgley  J: T Hamilton
NR
Forecasts
Dandy Highwayman (9/4), Vallarta (7/2), Chipping (9/2), Gilmer (6/1), Buccaneers Vault (6/1), Dark Defender (13/2), September Issue (8/1), Goninodaethat (16/1)
This is very competitive for the grade and not many can be left out of the equation with total confidence with Dandy Highwayman setting a good standard on form. He beat a Dalgleish horse last time and that may allow the trainer of Dark Defender know where he stands especially as that one has slipped back down below his last winning mark. Both Vallarta and Buccaneers Vault will have their supporters but GILMER with a fully-fledged rider replacing an inexperienced apprentice who may well be capable of taking this. He was in great form last year and ran a stormer last time out over 7f very much leaving the impression that a stronger ride would have seen him successful.
- Gilmer
- Dandy Highwayman
- Dark Defender
Prize Money
1st: £5,175.002nd: £1,540.003rd: £770.004th: £385.00
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