14:40 Ayr

Friday 20 April 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

QTS Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 50.0s

Master Of Irony^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 132| D

9/1

Used a fitness advantage to take care of his rivals at Wetherby in October and followed up with a good display at Newbury. Well-beaten since in the Imperial Cup and has work to do from this mark.

Form: 21-314P

Great Fighter^v²⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 131| CD

16/1

Useful dual-purpose horse who goes well here and who took this 12 months ago. Not at his best following breaks of this length and he needs quicker ground.

Form: 53411-3

Kelka⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 130| D

20/1

Consistent hurdler who has been chasing this year. Current mark gives her work to do but she arrives fresher than most.

Form: 2514-23

Demon D'Aunou¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

5/1

£130,000 purchase who hacked up on his British debut at Market Rasen in October (2m good). Not at his best on soft ground since, but conditions look more suitable and he is not overburdened.

Form: 2-134

Mick Thonic^b1,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124| BF| D

25/1

Not at his best lately over fences and wind surgery has made no obvious impact. Stable have been in good form but he remains one to treat with caution at present despite an attractive mark.

Form: UP7P46

Dodgybingo^p1²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: James Moffatt| OR: 123| D

33/1

Has two wins in Ireland on good ground. Makes debut for new yard with cheekpieces added and following an eight month break.

Form: 40-1676

Martila^h¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 123| CD

9/1

Has won three of her nine races since arriving from France. Acts on any going and can go well fresh. Not overburdened for beating a good field here in November and she is one for the shortlist.

Form: 1242-21

Dino Velvet⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 121| D

7/2

Would be dangerous on his best form and he appears likely to get the decent gallop he requires. Needs to bounce back from two sub-par efforts and stable have been quiet.

Form: 28-5505

Crackdeloust^v1⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 121

16/1

Back to form in first-time blinkers at Catterick but last of five since and his wins have come in lower grades. Stable normally have one prepared for this and are trying him in a first-time visor.

Form: 3F4415

Embole^h,t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

9/1

Third in a hot race at Newcastle before making short work of his rivals at Wincanton. Down the field in the Fred Winter since but better handicapped now in a less competitive contest.

Form: 43510

Lough Kent⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 119| D

22/1

Goes well fresh and in particular for this rider. Reasonably weighted but this looks tougher than he is used to.

Form: 112451

Oliver's Gold²¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: M Walford| OR: 117| CD

22/1

Off the track since September and better over fences nowadays. Likely to need the run and this is a probable launchpad to a summer campaign.

Form: P15237

Wot A Shot¹²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 110| D

33/1

Up 10lb for winning in lower grade last time. The runner-up has won twice since so a follow up cannot be ruled out if conditions are quick enough again.

Form: 1P8221

Our Lucas²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: B S Hughes| T: R M Smith| OR: 105| CD

5/1

Progressive hurdler who handles any ground. This is much tougher than his last two starts but he is upwardly mobile and the handicapper has not punished him too harshly.

Form: 8-22311

Non-Runners

Think Ahead³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: James Moffatt J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Dino Velvet (7/2), Our Lucas (5/1), Demon D'Aunou (5/1), Embole (9/1), Martila (9/1), Master Of Irony (9/1), Think Ahead (12/1), Crackdeloust (16/1), Great Fighter (16/1), Kelka (20/1), Oliver's Gold (22/1), Lough Kent (22/1), Mick Thonic (25/1), Wot A Shot (33/1), Dodgybingo (33/1)

An open contest in which James Moffat holds a strong hand with Think Ahead looking his most convincing runner judged on a Flat rating of 105 and the likelihood of better to come. Embole looked a useful prospect when scoring at WIncanton and a return to more positive tactics could see him in the mix. Martila has done little wrong and remains feasibly treated, whilst Our Lucas has earned the right to this step up in class and has been given a chance by the handicapper. DEMON D'AUNOU looked to have a bright future when scoring on his British debut. The quicker ground expected here will be in his favour and, with Barry Geraghty, on board the signs are that a big run is anticipated.