16:55 Ayr

Monday 26 February 2018

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

Biggest Jumps Season On Racing UK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 4m 18.40s

Silk Or Scarlet⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 101

9/1

Looked to show ability on his only bumper start and his hurdles starts so far have shown steady progress over 2m trips. Bred for further and shaped like a stayer on his latest start at Kelso (race has produced winners); makes his handicap debut here although may do better over further.

Form: 3-648

Suprise Vendor¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100| CD

10/1

His form over C&D reads F111 with the last of those wins coming back in March last year off a mark of 103 (return to form came from out of the blue). Not quite in the same form since although his run last time out can be forgotten (badly hampered early on); slipped back below his last winning mark.

Form: 7-43P30

Jolie Crickette³⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 100| D

40/1

Not seen since early last year when running poorly in a Musselburgh handicap failing to build on a win in a Kelso novice hurdle over 2m beating four rivals. Ran to a decent level over fences in France but hard to know what to expect now; dropped below last winning mark.

Form: 493P16-

Make It Happen^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98

10/1

Career has been punctuated by breaks of late and he's found it hard to build any momentum. Fallen well below the mark that he attained his only win off (106) when taking a Kelso handicap 2m2f; very much gives the impression that a return to a stiffer test would suit.

Form: 4PP8-2U

Bingo D'Olivate^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: A Nicol| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 94| D

10/1

Hinted at a return to form on a few occasions this season particularly at Hexham on a couple of occasions in November. Given a break after those two runs and hasn't matched that form at all; went in snatches last time and needs a stiffer test of stamina.

Form: P73306

Our Lucas¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: R M Smith| OR: 94

11/4

Improved after a long break on his second run for this yard over C&D when he ran into the fast improving Charmant but he at least managed to build on that when 2nd again last time out at Musselburgh. Up 3lb for that run but should go well if he can handle a relatively quick return to action.

Form: 8008-22

Sky Full Of Stars^b²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Ewart| OR: 92| CD

9/2

Turned in his best recent effort when winning a 2m chase here at the start of the year (yard was in good form at the time). Failed to back that up over fences next time before returning to better form back over hurdles last time ; ran into the well-backed/handicapped Bulls Head who runs earlier on the card.

Form: U36142

Lastin' Memories^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 85

6/1

Quickly dropped 13lb from his opening handicap mark having hinted that he could have some mileage in handicaps. He's twice since run over 3m and failed to stay and now drops in trip and grade off his lowest ever mark; one to watch in the market.

Form: 39-9785

Pc Dixon¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 84

25/1

Really hadn't shown much until taking the runner-up slot in a very weak Newcastle novice (started 100/1) to chase home a long-odds on shot (Absolutely Dylan). Given his handicap debut after that at Musselburgh (Our Lucas 2nd; Surprise Vendor 11th); up 4lb for that effort.

Form: 006724

Instingtive⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 81

7/1

Falling quickly in the weights (rated 101 when he joined this yard) but showing little sign of taking advantage. Seen to maximum effect last time out at Wetherby when taking a modest third and others have a stronger case here.

Form: U00043

Forecasts

Our Lucas (11/4), Sky Full Of Stars (9/2), Lastin' Memories (6/1), Instingtive (7/1), Silk Or Scarlet (9/1), Make It Happen (10/1), Suprise Vendor (10/1), Bingo D'Olivate (10/1), Pc Dixon (25/1), Jolie Crickette (40/1)

The biggest field of the day is saved for the penultimate race although it’s a contest that lacks many solid options although you would have to respect the C&D record of Surprise Vendor who has slipped back below his last winning mark and was badly hampered last time out so that run can be ignored. OUR LUCAS came second in that Musselburgh race and he may well have been unlucky to bump into well treated types on both his last two starts; the booking of champion jockey Richard Johnson could well be significant. Plenty of these look as though they could do with stronger test of stamina like handicap debutante Silk Or Scarlet and Make It Happen. Sky Full Of Stars will very much come into the equation if his last time out conqueror (Bulls Head) runs well earlier and Lastin’ Memories is worth a glance in the market now he drops in trip to 2m.