16:30 Ayr

Saturday 10 March 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 48.81s

One For Harry¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 140| BF| D

6/1

Showed battling qualities to win at Haydock in September, but was slightly disappointing when a beaten favourite over C&D last time. Down 2lb and entitled to be thereabouts if bouncing back to form.

Form: 24-5123

Mirsaale¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 139

12/1

Defied odds of 33-1 to win at Kelso in January and may have found the ground too heavy when last of six off 4lb higher at Newcastle. Runs off the same mark and prospect of slightly better ground gives cause for optimism.

Form: 145916

Captain Redbeard⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 0-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 139| D

7/1

Has been running with great credit in staying handicap chases, but is 5lb higher in that discipline so connections are chancing their arm over hurdles. This trip looks on the short side, though, and he is likely to be found wanting for toe.

Form: P2-3612

Becky The Thatcher⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 128| D

20/1

Shock 33-1 winner at Wetherby in November, but went up in the weights and has struggled in two runs since. Remains 6lb higher than when last successful, but boasts fair strike rate of 3-8 over timber.

Form: 221/147

Broken Quest^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 125| D

5/2

Well placed to land handicaps on last three starts, but now finds himself 25lb higher than when beginning his winning run. Tough ask, but he is on a steep upward curve and the ceiling of his ability may not have been reached.

Form: 47P111

Elusive Theatre²³

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 125| C

5/1

Beat One For Harry at this track in January, but went up 6lb and reverted to fences at Kelso last time when he ran respectably to be second of four. Returns to hurdles with decent prospects.

Form: F57512

Cornborough⁵⁵

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: M Walford| C

Form: 4/45246

Blottos¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 124| D

3/1

Good form in novice hurdles before making a winning debut in handicap company at Carlisle. A 2lb rise is very fair and this progressive sort should take plenty of beating.

Form: 6-F1211

Verona Opera⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 118| C

12/1

Ran with credit in hurdles before reverting to fences and finishing third to a classy sort at Carlisle. Races off 3lb lower than her last wining mark and has quite strong each-way claims.

Form: 137143

Eaton Hill⁶⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Kerry Lee| D

Form: 3P1-063

Jet Master⁵⁵

Age: 20| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: N W Alexander| D

Form: 516463

Apache Jack³⁸

Age: 18| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: S R B Crawford| D

Form: P09447

Cash Again¹⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: B Haslam

Form: 576P13

Forecasts

Broken Quest (5/2), Blottos (3/1), Elusive Theatre (5/1), One For Harry (6/1), Captain Redbeard (7/1), Verona Opera (12/1), Mirsaale (12/1), Becky The Thatcher (20/1)

Decent prize money up for grabs so no surprise to see a competitive line-up. One For Harry is not out of it despite his big weight and Mirsaale may do better if rain stays away. Becky The Thatcher and the stable companions Elusive Theatre and Verona Opera have fair claims, but the two most likely sorts are the progressive Broken Quest and BLOTTOS. The latter looks the more feasibly handicapped and can continue his winning run.