13:00 Ayr

Wednesday 15 November 2017

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4015:1015:45

Book Now For The Coral Scottish Grand National Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 31.30s

Arctic Vodka²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt

16/1

Better on last couple of starts and seemed to run well in the face of a stiff task (and big price tag) at Carlisle last time out. Trip and ground no issue and each-way chance if building on that effort.

Form: 4898-82

Braes Of Lochalsh³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| C

50/1

Not devoid of ability on the Flat and tends to race almost exclusively at Ayr these days, but hasn't shown enough in two hurdles starts (or on the Flat recently) to think he's up to making an impact here.

Form: 00-

Dunly²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart

14/1

In the frame all four starts, and some of his bumper form (such as his second to the useful Golden Jeffrey here in February) looks pretty good in the context of this race. Will surely improve this year and looks a major player here.

Form: 2223-

Graystown¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd

14/1

Sent off a whopping 100/1 but made a mockery of those odds with a close third over 2m here last time out. Likely to do better for this step up in trip too and can't be totally discounted.

Form: 374PP-3

Quick Pick¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

5/1

Point-to-point winner that's run well on both starts over hurdles so far, sticking to the task well over 2m here last time out. Step up in trip can only help his cause and he looks one for the shortlist today.

Form: 5212-2

Read'em And Weep¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith

100/1

Pulled up and tailed off on his only two starts under Rules so far and can't be entertained as a likely winner on either of those runs.

Form: FF/F-4P8

Shtan On⁹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans

40/1

Second in only start in a point-to-point back in 2015 but worth pointing out the winner of that, Ballycross, is now rated 133, so form could be decent. Hard to know what to expect after such an absence but market the best guide.

Form: 2/

Uncle Alastair²⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| C

10/11

2-2 in bumpers, looked a smart prospect when just getting the better of Dunly here in February. Clearly held in some regard and this well-bred sort can surely only do better for hurdles this term. Every chance if jumping fluently on hurdles debut.

Form: 11-

Olivia Joan¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: A C Whillans

100/1

Not disgraced in a Kelso bumper in February but that's very much the high point in an otherwise moderate run of form. No realistic chance here.

Form: 9/6-0P7

Side Of The Road²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

100/1

Modicum of promise in three starts to date but nowhere near enough to suggest she's up to challenging for top honours today.

Form: 957-

Victoria Says³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 102

3/1

Seems to be getting the hang of things and has run to a reasonable level in three hurdles starts. Handles soft/heavy ground and this trip should be fine, but no surprise if she finds a few of these a bit too classy today.

Form: 7542-4

Forecasts

Uncle Alastair (10/11), Victoria Says (3/1), Quick Pick (5/1), Graystown (14/1), Dunly (14/1), Arctic Vodka (16/1), Shtan On (40/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (50/1), Side Of The Road (100/1), Read'em And Weep (100/1), Olivia Joan (100/1)

The two with the potential to be better than this grade are the unbeaten UNCLE ALASTAIR and Dunly, and although there's little between them on form, the former gets the nod with the switch to hurdles likely to see him in an even better light. He could be a useful prospect among the Northern hurdlers this year and can take this en route to better things. Dunly should keep him honest though, and he too has plenty more to come. Quick Pick and Victoria Says can battle out the minor money.