14:15 Ayr

Monday 26 February 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:5016:2016:5517:30

Jump To It And Join Racing UK Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 14.44s

Bialco^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127

5/4

Winner over fences in France (2m3f, heavy at Nantes) he faced a stiff task on his debut in GB again over fences at Market Rasen in a graduation chase (2m5f). Again shaped better than the bare result when brought back to hurdles at Haydock (travelled well) to finish 5th to Tommy Rapper.

Form: 702735

Eagle Ridge¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: N W Alexander

66/1

Only showed modest form in bumpers when trained in Ireland and has a pedigree that looks as though he'll be suited by a test of stamina. Looked to need the run on his debut for this yard over hurdles (2m, Ayr) and ran to much the same level at Kelso last time.

Form: 53-9267

Kennedys Field²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Gemma Anderson

66/1

Looked limited in three bumpers starts and ran no better on his hurdling debut at Kelso. Showed more in a small field affair (with hood left off) and allowed to dictate the pace second time up over hurdles; looks the sort who will do better in low-grade handicaps once he has a mark.

Form: P-55003

Keyboard Gangster^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

16/1

Showed ability on both his bumper starts which came 10 months apart but also displayed some temperament to go with it (hung very badly second start). In need of his hurdles debut after another break over C&D and still raced very freely; looks to need to settle down in his races.

Form: 86-4

Nando⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: A Nicol| T: N G Richards

6/5

Lightly-raced (made his bumper debut in November 2016) but showed promise on his debut (experience needed); failed to build on that outing when next seen in a Perth bumper (two other runners from yard ran poorly on same card). Back to form in a C&D hurdle on debut in that sphere (jumping needs to improve); will improve.

Form: 4-52

Peters Grey⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: R M Smith| OR: 99

25/1

Regular visitor to Ayr but has yet to win a race of any sort but has been very lightly raced in the past couple of years. Back from another lengthy absence last time shaping as if he retained his ability when 5th over C&D (Nando 2nd) and likely to strip fitter for that run.

Form: 7253/4-5

Up Helly Aa King^t1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

80/1

Has a fair bit to recommend him on pedigree on the jumping front and looked to show some ability on his bumper debut over C&D. Has gone backwards from that initial outing though in three outings since (the last two over hurdles) and more needed here.

Form: 3P-P7

Amybell⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Joe Colliver| T: S Wilson

40/1

Poor form in bumpers and fared no better since sent hurdling looking in need of the experience the first time. Upped in trip (2m2f) last time out at Fairyhouse but again showed little and was always behind.

Form: 87-70

Take The High Road³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish

8/1

Started life on the Flat with John Oxx and ran well to finish placed in two turf maidens. Failed to live up to that form on his one Flat (Fibresand) run for this yard and switched to hurdles. Has offered something to work on over hurdles but stamina doubts remain and ran far too free last time out.

Form: 45

Forecasts

Nando (6/5), Bialco (5/4), Take The High Road (8/1), Keyboard Gangster (16/1), Peters Grey (25/1), Amybell (40/1), Eagle Ridge (66/1), Kennedys Field (66/1), Up Helly Aa King (80/1)

This looks a straight contest between Bialco and NANDO both of whom come here via good runs last time out. More of a chasing type the former of that duo made a good fist of being beaten only 4L in a recent Haydock Pertemps Qualifier and already has a mark of 127, that race took place in very testing conditions and the only worry would be that this could come too soon. The Nicky Richards trained son Dai Jin has already run well over C&D last month only going down narrowly to a subsequent winner pulling well clear of the third and showing that he can handle very testing conditions. Take The High Road needs to settle better in his races and prove that he stays as does Keyboard Gangster who also races very freely. If there is one worth watching for handicaps in the future then that would be Kennedys Field who looks to be being brought along slowly.