20:20 Ayr

Saturday 12 August 2017

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Gas Sure & James Frew Handicap

Off time: 20:21 | Winning time: 1m 30.29s

(1)

Dark Crystal⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 73| CD

8/1

Has won here six times including four over this trip. Yet to win from a mark this high but arrives in better shape than most in this lineup.

Form: 133582

(10)

Chaplin Bay^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: K Stott| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70| D

9/2

Has generally been performing better than his form figures suggest and in much higher grades too. His C&D second here in June gives him an obvious chance having dropped 4lb since. Stable in form and one for the shortlist.

Form: 328757

(7)

Royal Duchess³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 68| CD

7/2

C&D specialist and nicely weighted with Dark Crystal on current form. Tends to spoil her chances by missing the break and that is the risk she carries.

Form: 87-6543

(5)

Flinty Fell¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 65

10/1

Form has a symmetrical up and down look to it which dictates she is due to put in one of her better efforts here. Stable do well at this fixture but she hardly looks one to put maximum faith in.

Form: 0P-4545

(2)

Chipping^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 70

11/2

Looked promising as a juvenile but last couple of efforts have seen him come under pressure early and never threatening to be involved. Best effort of the year came here and that would be the main cause for optimism.

Form: 1-89286

(9)

Lady In Question¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69

4/1

Debut winner on quick ground who later finished fifth in the Two-Year-Old Trophy. Has only raced on easy surfaces this year which may be the reason she is showing a lack of progress. Rider is good value for his claim and the stable took this last year.

Form: 5-54345

(8)

Inglorious^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 62

8/1

Holds Dark Crystal on running here in July behind Nothing To Lose. Not as good on next two starts but better over 1m1f last time and step back to this trip should suit. Stable in form and have done well at this fixture in the past.

Form: 6-23703

(4)

Lotara⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Mathers| T: J S Goldie| OR: 53

18/1

Winner over 5f at Newcastle for this yard. Often gets behind and then flatters to deceive by making headway through beaten horses. Failed to stay on a previous attempt at this trip.

Form: 4-04095

(3)

Coral Princess⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 46

20/1

11-race maiden is one of three in the race for her trainer and has the least obvious prospects. Has looked better over further and off a lower mark.

Form: 877536

Non-Runners

(6)

Justice Pleasing²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: R Fell & S Murray J: Ben Sanderson

Forecasts

Royal Duchess (7/2), Lady In Question (4/1), Chaplin Bay (9/2), Chipping (11/2), Inglorious (8/1), Dark Crystal (8/1), Justice Pleasing (8/1), Flinty Fell (10/1), Lotara (18/1), Coral Princess (20/1)

Dark Crystal and Royal Duchess are a couple of C&D specialist who are difficult to ignore. The latter will be a threat if she can break on terms. She and a few others are nicely weighted against Dark Crystal on recent form. Inglorious is particularly well in and his stable are enjoying a good spell. Justice Pleasing and Lady In Question need to bounce back from poor efforts last time and Chipping has underperformed since a good second here a couple of months ago. CHAPLIN BAY represents Ruth Carr's in form team and he gets a welcome drop in class and some leniency from the handicapper. The form of his C&D second in June puts him in the mix and he makes solid each-way appeal at the forecast odds.