14:15 Ayr

Monday 15 January 2018

All13:1013:4514:1514:5015:2515:55

Jump To It And Join Racing UK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 7m 3.16s

Aengus^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122

11/1

Cashed in on a falling mark (well backed) when winning at Wetherby in a lower grade than this off a mark of 107 and followed up quickly at Catterick over 3m1f. Ended last season in good heart but has returned out of sorts so far in two runs the last off a 2lb higher mark in a Chepstow 0-130; more needed here.

Form: 6113-78

Chef D'Oeuvre^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120| D

5/1

Despite winning over fences gradually had more and more problems with his jumping (pulled-up last time in that sphere). Reverted to hurdles last time in a Chepstow 0-145 (first-time blinkers) and strong in market but jumped poorly (made running); jury very much out on him now.

Form: 1U3-0P6

Too Many Chiefs¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 120| CD

4/1

A winner of his last two starts here on heavy ground conditions will hold no fears although he does have to overcome an 11lb rise for his last win (now on a career high mark). Generally like to race up with the pace and given his record here must be respected.

Form: 0-82141

Rowdy Rocher⁸¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 118| CD

10/1

Scored back-to-back wins early last year here winning over C&D (hurdles) and the following up over fences over a shorter trip. Won his chase off the mark he races off today but did look rather ring rusty when last seen in October at Carlisle over fences and may need this.

Form: 51156-9

Conquer Gold²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| D

11/2

Kept to hurdles for last couple of runs after showing some useful chasing form (won off a 2lb higher mark over fences). Well supported on her return over 2m4f here (ran poorly) but stepped up on that run last time (race not run to suit) and better over this trip in ground she will handle.

Form: 2214-72

Mac N Cheese^h⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 117| D

3/1

Failed to convince with his jumping over fences on debut here and fell next time out and now reverts to hurdles. Showed improved form when last seen in this sphere on stable debut back from a long break at Perth (3m, heavy) winning easily (18L) off a mark of 100.

Form: 761/13F

Another Mattie^t⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113| CD

20/1

Hardly a stranger around here having run here 11 times now with both his course wins coming with plenty of give in the ground. Capitalised on a falling mark (113) when winning over C&D in March (favourite in small field); has failed in three recent runs though and has looked an awkward ride.

Form: 316-P4P

Transient Bay^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 110| C

28/1

His Uttoxeter win at the start of last year came totally out of the blue and on the back of three pulled-up efforts. More than likely needed the run over 2m3f here last time when back from 10 months off; trip and mark look likely to prove testing for him.

Form: PPP14-0

Trongate²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 106| C

7/1

His one previous try over C&D came on handicap debut with the trip/mark looking too testing for him. Ran better at Musselburgh in November (trip still looked too far) and it took a drop to a career low mark and shorter trip to see in winning form last time here; now 6lb higher and back up in trip.

Form: 20-4041

Forecasts

Mac N Cheese (3/1), Too Many Chiefs (4/1), Chef D'Oeuvre (5/1), Conquer Gold (11/2), Trongate (7/1), Rowdy Rocher (10/1), Aengus (11/1), Another Mattie (20/1), Transient Bay (28/1)

Quite a few that have chances here but equally that same group do have something to prove also be it the switch back to hurdles, a stiff mark or the trip. CONQUER GOLD looked as though she could be quite useful over fences so it’s interesting that connections continue over hurdles. She ran a sound race last time when trying to track down a runaway leader (Beyondtemptation; runs in the 1.45) and having won off higher marks over fences with ground and trip to suit she is the selection here. Too Many Chiefs likes it here but has to prove that he can win off this sort of mark and like Mac N Cheese has a stiff task at the weights. Trongate still needs to prove his stamina at this trip while Chef D’Oeuvre a rare runner here for the Greatrex team has to jump with more fluency this time around.