14:55 Ayr

Saturday 21 April 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 3m 41.90s

Ch'tibello³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 154| CD

20/1

Winner of this race two years ago and running well in the main since. Beaten 24L at Cheltenham last time out and likely to find life tough under top weight.

Form: 32-4228

Claimantakinforgan³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

11/2

Promising novice earlier this season and finished a respectable fifth in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham (heavy) last time out. One to note on handicap debut.

Form: 35-1135

Verdana Blue⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

6/1

Ascot handicap hurdle winner on good-to-soft in November and placed in a Grade 3 the following month. Well beaten last time out however and is returning from a break in this.

Form: 43-5130

Charli Parcs³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

14/1

Failed to win in six starts since making a winning British debut at Kempton in December 2016. Pulled up in the Champion Hurdle last time and this looks more suitable.

Form: F6-200P

A Hare Breath³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 142| D

33/1

Listed handicap hurdle winner on good-to-soft ground at Sandown in December. Respectable effort returning from a break at Cheltenham last time and interesting to see how he performs in this.

Form: 1370-18

Beyond The Clouds⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K A Ryan| OR: 142| D

13/2

Bidding to complete a four-timer over hurdles following three victories in novice company. Won on soft ground last time out and he is one for the shortlist on handicap debut.

Form: 12-1111

The Unit⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 142| D

20/1

Finished in the first three on all four starts since winning at Taunton 13 months ago. Returns to hurdles here following a spell over fences.

Form: 213-232

Chesterfield³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 141| CD

6/1

Followed up a Kempton jumpers bumper win by finishing 5L fourth at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last month. One to note as he bids to follow up last years success in this.

Form: 1-00414

Flying Tiger³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 140| BF| D

17/2

Fair efforts in competitive Graded races this season but well held in a handicap at Cheltenham last time and interesting to see how he fares in this.

Form: 4-33440

Irish Roe⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 140| D

20/1

Dual Doncaster winner earlier this season and Graded-placed against her own sex since. Pulled up back in a handicap last time out and more needed in this.

Form: 12112P

Brelade^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

12/1

Placed over fences earlier this season and followed up a respectable Cheltenham effort when a second on heavy ground at Cork three weeks ago. Represents a leading stable in this.

Form: 224372

I'm A Game Changer¹²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| D

10/1

Returned to form when winning on soft ground at Ludlow last time out. Raised 8lb for that success and more needed if he's to follow up here.

Form: 114-651

Midnight Shadow⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 134| BF| D

25/1

Hurdles winner on soft ground at Uttoxeter in October. Decent effort when 13L seventh in a Grade 1 at Aintree (soft) last time and making his handicap debut in this.

Form: 1222U7

Flashing Glance^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 132| D

12/1

Recorded his third win over hurdles at Ludlow (soft) on his first appearance since wind surgery in January. Yard going well (4/11) at present and interesting despite racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 5-61231

Attest^p¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132| D

40/1

Successful on soft ground at Taunton in December. Cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are retained here. Racing from out of the handicap here.

Form: 112651

Sir Chauvelin²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 131| BF| C| D

20/1

Completed a double when winning on good-to-soft ground at Musselburgh in January. Held the last twice and looks up against it from out of the handicap.

Form: 3138/14-

Forecasts

Claimantakinforgan (11/2), Chesterfield (6/1), Verdana Blue (6/1), Beyond The Clouds (13/2), Flying Tiger (17/2), I'm A Game Changer (10/1), Brelade (12/1), Flashing Glance (12/1), Charli Parcs (14/1), Irish Roe (20/1), The Unit (20/1), Ch'tibello (20/1), Sir Chauvelin (20/1), Midnight Shadow (25/1), A Hare Breath (33/1), Attest (40/1)

BEYOND THE CLOUDS can make a winning handicap debut in this highly competitive Grade 2 hurdle contest. Kevin Ryan has an 18% strike-rate (3/17) of late and the five-year-old gelding can follow up his soft ground victory in February by taking this competitive affair with regular pilot Brian Hughes in the saddle once more. Chesterfield ran well on his return to handicaps at Cheltenham last time and he can claim second ahead of Claimantakinforgan who ran well in a Grade 1 novice event last time out and like the selection is making his handicap debut in this.