13:35 Ayr
Wednesday 31 January 2018
All13:3514:0514:3515:1015:4516:20
Frank McGoldrick 60th Birthday Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 5f 91y | Heavy | 9 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 6m 8.55s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Improved when tried in handicaps for the first time over 2m3f here recently and now steps up another 2f back in maiden company. Will handle the ground and trip and may at last end a run of places.
Improved gradually over hurdles and his penultimate start was probably his best run so far when taking second at Hexham over 2m4f. Didn't quite live up to that run last time and has a stiff looking handicap mark and that's possibly why connections have kept him to this sphere.
Made his Rules debut (finished runner-up on his completed point-to-point start) at Kelso over a similar trip and showed some ability. No match for two more experienced and fancied rivals and should be able to progress here.
Made a winning bumper debut here in October on soft ground (comes from a good jumping family) and did so in good style. Failed to follow-up under a penalty in a similar event (also here) but better expected now that he goes hurdling over further.
Despite there being winning jumping relations in the pedigree he's fared poorly in bumpers and over hurdles. Now makes his debut for a new yard having been sold from the Tom George stable for £4,500 in May; may do better in handicaps once he has a mark.
Given his breeding he made a very promising start to his career when third in a Newbury bumper (with Oliver Sherwood at the time). Off for quite some while until making his hurdles debut at Newcastle (considerate introduction) for this yard and capable of better.
Winner of an Irish point-to-point on his debut he looked as though he would be better for the run on his bumper debut. Very much shaped like a stayer when taking 4th on his hurdles debut (Mankala 5th) and should show more progress over this trip.
Has been a rather slower burner over hurdles than some of these but ran her best race here last time out over slightly shorter in a hood for the first time. That wasn't a particularly strong event but the test of stamina will suit her.
Was a maiden in point-to-points and her two hurdle runs so far have only shown some limited ability. Look one far more for the future and others make more appeal here.
Forecasts
Ardean Lass (9/4), Sweet As Candy (4/1), Arctic Vodka (9/2), Mankala (7/1), Behindthelines (15/2), Crawfords Mill (14/1), Hangard (20/1), Hardrock Davis (28/1), Bafana Blue (33/1)
Quite a competitive opener for the card and certainly stronger than many races of this type with a fair few expected to show some improvement. Ardean Lass is the pick of the two Crawford runners and a repeat of her last run here will see her go close. It’s not hard to see the likes of Hangard and Mankala improving in the future along with the likes of Behindthelines. Sweet As Candy is likely to enjoy this trip but the experienced ARCTIC VODKA deserves to win a race like this and is given the vote here after his good second here in a handicap last time.
- Arctic Vodka
- Ardean Lass
- Mankala
Prize Money
1st: £3,509.002nd: £1,030.003rd: £515.004th: £258.00
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