15:45 Ayr

Monday 14 August 2017

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

William Hill Get The App On Google Play Handicap

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 1m 13.56s

(9)

Sahreej³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 75

4/1

Not won for a couple of years now but this 6f trip should suit better than the 5f he's run over the last twice. Lost nothing in defeat when not beaten far last time out by an improving sort off this mark and has to be respected here despite the losing run.

Form: 073272

(3)

Jacob's Pillow^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 75| D

12/1

Might well have had the run of the race and the benefit of the best ground last time at Hamilton but he probably turned in his best performance of the year to make all over 6f (soft). Now off an 8lb higher mark this will be tougher as he's never won off a mark this high although the trainer remains in cracking form.

Form: 512681

(6)

Bapak Asmara^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 72

22/1

Dropping down the handicap and grades quite quickly but showing little sign of taking advantage despite the good form of the yard. Would have to show plenty of improvement to take a hand here despite descending below his last winning mark.

Form: 03-8080

(2)

Benjamin Thomas^v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 75| BF| D

7/4

The trainer is cracking along well at the moment with nearly all the horses running to or above form. This one completed a simple task when winning his maiden at Catterick over 6f and despite a blip on his penultimate run he bounced back to form last time out with a good second at Epsom over 7f. The drop back to 6f and the mark look workable but he may be better with some cut in the ground.

Form: 323192

(8)

Funding Deficit^h²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 70| C| D

20/1

Twice a winner at this course over further he's not won for over a year now although the handicapper is starting to give him some relief. Despite the falling mark he has continued to struggle and even the slight ease in class may not help him here.

Form: 409-905

(1)

Alfie's Angel²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 71| D

8/1

A break and being gelded appeared to help him get off the mark on his second handicap start at Pontefract over 6f (needed all of that stiff 6f). His two runs since then haven't shown the expected improvement and with the yard rather cold at the moment he's best watched here.

Form: 358-166

(10)

Rosenborg Rider^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 65| D

11/2

There is just one win next to his name from 19 starts when he was with Ralph Beckett and that came over 6f in a Kempton Park AW maiden. Not shown all that much since including for this yard but nay have taken a step forward last time out at the Curragh off this mark coming back down in trip and would be one to note off this attractive mark if he could be relied on to run his race again.

Form: 007404

(4)

Duncan Of Scotland^b¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: L Smyth| OR: 64| BF| CD

7/1

Opened his account with a win from out the blue when making all over C&D in May off a mark of just 50. Followed that win up under a penalty four days later (again made all) before the higher marks appeared to catch up with him. Had a rare run over 5f last time out and will be much happier back over 6f but does still have to prove his worth of this mark.

Form: 173225

(7)

Goninodaethat²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Nathan Evans| T: J S Goldie| OR: 60| CD

20/1

Surely needs no introduction at a course where he has very much made his name winning here eight times with five coming over C&D. You can never be sure when he'll produce his best form around his favourite course(rarely runs elsewhere) and he's still 3lb above his last winning mark and a stronger grade than usual.

Form: 764269

Non-Runners

(5)

Ticks The Boxes⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: J S Wainwright J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Benjamin Thomas (7/4), Sahreej (4/1), Rosenborg Rider (11/2), Ticks The Boxes (11/2), Duncan Of Scotland (7/1), Alfie's Angel (8/1), Jacob's Pillow (12/1), Goninodaethat (20/1), Funding Deficit (20/1), Bapak Asmara (22/1)

Quite an open contest with the raiders from Ireland holding a fairly strong hand with three perfectly reasonable challengers; Duncan Of Scotland has to prove he can win off this mark while Rosenborg Rider could be one to note of what looks to be an attractive mark. It’s SAHREEJ who is of most interest amongst that trio though with his last run and return to 6f giving him a chance of ending his long losing run. Benjamin Thomas comes from a yard that is at the top of their game at the moment but he might just need a bit more cut in the ground to be fully effective over 6f.