13:50 Ayr

Friday 9 March 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 4m 20.0s

Biennial⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽⁵⁾| T: I A Duncan

11/1

Little promise in three bumpers in Ireland before joining current stable. Same story in another bumper for this yard and was then pulled up in a maiden hurdle over C&D. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 76-05P

Booyakasha⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards

11/8

Good jumping pedigree and showed plenty of promise when third on his hurdling debut at Catterick. Not so good on a softer surface at Kelso last time and has something to prove in similar conditions.

Form: 6-30

Chasseur De Tete^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

4/1

Best run in five starts over hurdles saw him take third place in a novice event over C&D in January. Well held in handicap company last time and has better prospects in this weaker contest.

Form: 0-75539

Snougar⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

7/4

Last in a Bangor bumper on debut, but shaped much better when switched to hurdles last time, finishing third of six to a useful type at Wetherby. Needs to take another step forward, but is clearly open to further improvement.

Form: 03

The Hard Shoulder^t1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant

11/1

Beaten a long way in three bumpers spread over 13 months. Hard to recommend on that evidence, but he does have a nice jumping pedigree and may do better now he is tried over hurdles in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 0-96

Cyprus Avenue¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan

13/2

Not much promise in three bumpers, but ran respectably on her hurdling debut behind a fair sort at Newcastle. Looks the stronger of two runners from this stable.

Form: 5085

Jackhammer¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

14/1

Won a juvenile maiden on the Flat, but drew a blank in 10 subsequent starts on the level. First attempt at jumping may galvanise him so he is certainly worth a check in the betting.

Form:

Specialist²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: W Young Jnr

25/1

Won an AW maiden a year ago for Mark Johnston, but made an underwhelming jumping debut last of six over C&D. Slightly better ground should help, but still has plenty to find.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Booyakasha (11/8), Snougar (7/4), Chasseur De Tete (4/1), Cyprus Avenue (13/2), Biennial (11/1), The Hard Shoulder (11/1), Jackhammer (14/1), Specialist (25/1)

An ordinary novice event in which hurdling debutant Jackhammer would not have to be much out of the ordinary to be in the shake-up. Cyprus Avenue did not shape too badly on debut over timber and looks the best of two runners from her stable and The Hard Shoulder should do better now he is hurdling. However, this may rest between Booyakasha, Chasseur De Tete and SNOUGAR, with the latter, who took a big step forward from his debut run, given the nod on the assumption further improvement is to come.