15:45 Ayr

Friday 20 April 2018

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

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 5m 11.5s

Just Cameron^p,t²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 145| C

28/1

Rarely tried at this trip although the evidence shows he stays this far. Seems better in smaller fields when able to dominate from the front and he may find conceding weight to younger legs beyond him.

Form: 4-67142

Sizing Platinum^t⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144

16/1

Handicapper took a dim view of his wide margin success at Newton Abbot last autumn and he has been well held since. Plenty to find with Theinval on last week's run at Aintree.

Form: 07-1306

Mercian Prince³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 144| D

18/1

Tailed off at Cheltenham last time but had won his two previous starts. Will get the pace he requires and every chance he can bounce back.

Form: 3-38110

Full Glass¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 142

12/1

4-14 in France and has been competing against top company lately. Makes British debut off a workable mark, but stable are quiet and he is accustomed to much softer ground.

Form: 24-P1F3

Theinval^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| D

9/4

Runner-up in this last year off 7lb higher and arrives on the back of a season's best at Aintree last week. Looks the one to beat if none the worse for those exertions.

Form: 4F3642

Romain De Senam^h,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| D

6/1

Has had a spring campaign in mind since an impressive success at Chepstown when beating Double Shuffle and Ultragold. Conditions will be more to his liking than on last three starts and he went close at this fixture last year.

Form: 2-11550

Guitar Pete³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 139| D

6/1

Fortunate winner of the Caspian Caviar and mistakes have proved costly on his two starts since. Others appeal as being better handicapped than he does.

Form: 2191U6

Ballyhill³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| D

12/1

Has winning form on heavy ground but quicker conditions may suit more and last autumn's second to Sceau Royal gives him every chance from this mark.

Form: 35F109

Katachenko⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| BF| D

33/1

Lightly raced this term and he may have been saved for a spring campaign. However, current mark asks serious questions.

Form: 520U-26

Monbeg River⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 134| C

25/1

Goes well here and unlucky to be denied last time. Jumps well but has previously not looked up to this level.

Form: B3-2192

Value At Risk⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

5/1

Has not achieved as much as expected over fences, but new mark gives him a chance with underfoot conditions to suit. Stable took this last year.

Form: 5-27165

Cracking Find¹²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 125| D

20/1

Form of his latest victory has been boosted. Significantly up in class but he is progressive and has shown good battling qualities.

Form: 315311

Forecasts

Theinval (9/4), Value At Risk (5/1), Romain De Senam (6/1), Guitar Pete (6/1), Full Glass (12/1), Ballyhill (12/1), Sizing Platinum (16/1), Mercian Prince (18/1), Cracking Find (20/1), Monbeg River (25/1), Just Cameron (28/1), Katachenko (33/1)

A tremendous race looks in prospect and a case can be made for most. Value At Risk has been given a great chance by the handicapper if everything falls right for him, whilst Cracking Find is progressing nicely and will not go down without a fight. Just Cameron will ensure this is run at a pace that will see Mercian Prince at his best, whilst Ballyhill may improve on these quicker conditions. Romain De Senam was impressive when landing some good bets at Chepstow and he looks the sort who has been laid out for a spring campaign. THEINVAL was runner-up in this last year and his latest effort at Aintree means he will be racing off a higher mark from next week. That makes him hard to oppose.