16:05 Ayr

Saturday 21 April 2018

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

Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 8m 3.20s

Gold Present³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 155

20/1

Completing a double when winning a Listed handicap chase at Ascot (good-to-soft) in December. Disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival last time out and stepping up in trip in this.

Form: 22F-11P

Vicente^h³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

8/1

Bidding for third win of this race and arrives only 4lb higher than last year. Pulled up last time out, but yard going well (8/33) and will be fully tuned up for another tilt at Scotland's biggest prize.

Form: 9F1-2UP

Sizing Codelco⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 150

28/1

Put a couple of pulled up efforts behind him when finishing fourth to Might Bite in a Grade 1 at Aintree (3m1f, good-to-soft) last week. Interesting to see how he fares back in handicap company.

Form: 1-P6PP4

Ballyoptic³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 149

9/1

Useful novice winning a Grade 2 on heavy ground at Wetherby over 3m in February. Good effort in finishing fourth at Cheltenham last time out and he is making his handicap debut over fences in this.

Form: 512414

Beware The Bear³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 149

14/1

Successful on three of his seven starts over fences including over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (soft) in December. Ran well at Cheltenham last time and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 174-1P4

Fagan¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| BF| C

7/1

Finished runner-up in two starts since winning impressively on good ground at Perth over 3m last July. Represents a leading yard on handicap debut on his first outing since October.

Form: 24/P-122

Label Des Obeaux^p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 147| C

20/1

Pulled up in a valuable contest at Newbury (good-to-soft) in December and held on two subsequently outings. Handicap mark is falling as a result and interesting to see how he fares on this occasion.

Form: 1-83P68

Sizing Tennessee³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145

10/1

Placed on each of his last three starts including when 22L third over 4m at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Previously finished 17L third off a mark 2lb higher than he races off today and he is an interesting runner here.

Form: FU1233

Regal Flow³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 145

25/1

Winner of three of his last four starts including last months Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (4m2f, heavy). Races off a 10lb higher mark here and he has a promising conditional jockey in the saddle once more.

Form: 391211

West Approach^b³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144

33/1

Useful hurdler on his day but had his limitations exposed over around 2m4f in novice company the last twice. More needed on handicap debut stepping up in trip.

Form: 131356

Silsol^b,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| C

14/1

Missed most of last season and recorded his best effort in four starts since returning when finishing 15L fourth to Regal Flow at Uttoxeter (4m2f, heavy) last time out. Work to do if he's to reverse that form.

Form: 81-05U4

Vintage Clouds³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 141

12/1

Placed on all four starts since winning at Aintree (good-to-soft) in October. Finished third off this mark over 3m1f at Cheltenham (heavy) last time out and finished seventh in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 7-12423

Get On The Yager³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

28/1

Twice a winner in December including of a Grade 3 at Wetherby (3m, soft). Stamina appeared the issue when well held over 4m2f at Uttoxeter last time and he looks up against it in this.

Form: 661129

Henri Parry Morgan^b,t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139

18/1

Returned to form when winning over 3m4f at Ffos Las (heavy) last time out. Raised 6lb for that success and this looks much more competitive.

Form: 9-2U5P1

Benbens³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

40/1

Disappointed in two outings since winning under today's rider at Sandown (3m5f, good-to-soft) in December. Looks up against it on this occasion.

Form: 4-7419P

Looking Well⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 137

16/1

Still in front when unseating before the last in a 4m1f contest at Musselburgh (soft) last time. Raised 5lb for that effort and interesting to see how he fares on this occasion.

Form: 2126-7U

Cogry^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

25/1

Struggled in two completions since finishing runner-up at Warwick (3m5f, soft) in January. Not written off just yet having finished runner-up in this contest off a 6lb lower mark 12 months ago.

Form: 1P2U30

Indy Five⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 136

25/1

In good form in the main this season and followed up a soft ground win at Newbury in February by finishing runner-up over 3m on heavy ground here last time. Leading jockey booked to ride in this.

Form: 1-91F12

Straidnahanna⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 136

66/1

Justified favouritism when winning over 3m1f at Catterick (good-to-soft) last time out. Raised 6lb for that victory and this looks tougher.

Form: 0P-65P1

Doing Fine^p,t¹³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135

12/1

Good efforts on all three starts so far this season including when fourth over 3m5f at Sandown (good-to-soft) in December. Unraced since and represents a yard who have had a few winners (4/20) of late.

Form: 215-434

Joe Farrell²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

33/1

Left clear prior to winning by 17L at Newbury (soft) on his return from a break last month. Has to defy an 11lb rise in the weights if he's to follow-up in this.

Form: 0-42431

Work Du Breteau^t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

100/1

Dual winner for Tim Reed but finished well beaten over hurdles on debut for this yard in February. Interesting to see how he fares back over fences.

Form: 31F260

Pearl Swan^b,t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 134

66/1

Three time winner over fences last season but well held in starts this time around including over 3m1f at Aintree (soft) last week. More needed in this contest.

Form: 1411-98

Glencairn View²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 133

11/1

Winner of two of his last three starts including in a valuable contest at Navan (3m, heavy) last time out. Has to defy a 9lb rise in the weights on this occasion.

Form: 642131

The Young Master^p³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132

12/1

Useful horse a couple of seasons back winning a valuable contest over 3m5f at Sandown (good) in April 2016. Well handicapped on that form and has his regular pilot in the saddle once more.

Form: 9-U63P6

Alzammaar²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S England| OR: 130

50/1

Fortunate winner at Catterick (3m1f, good-to-soft) in December but has put in decent enough efforts in two subsequent novice starts. More needed upped in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 0-22124

Boa Island^p¹⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: James Moffatt| OR: 130

100/1

Dual winning point-to-pointer and victorious three times when trained by Paul Nicholls. Disappointed twice in the autumn and making his debut for a new yard in this.

Form: 661P-07

Fact Of The Matter^t¹⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 129

50/1

Cartmel winner on good-to-soft ground in August and placed at Warwick subsequently. Making his first start since pulling up at Wincanton in November.

Form: 1-3013P

Racing Europe⁸¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: D R Fox| T: B Ellison| OR: 127| BF

100/1

Beaten just 1L when finishing third over an extended 3m2f at Sedgefield (good-to-soft) in January 2016. Absent since and racing from out of the handicap. First reserve.

Form: 234523/

Non-Runners

Mysteree⁶³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 10

T: M Scudamore J: R T Dunne

Alvarado¹²⁷

Weight: 10-1| Age: 13

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Fagan (7/1), Vicente (8/1), Ballyoptic (9/1), Sizing Tennessee (10/1), Glencairn View (11/1), Vintage Clouds (12/1), Doing Fine (12/1), The Young Master (12/1), Silsol (14/1), Beware The Bear (14/1), Looking Well (16/1), Henri Parry Morgan (18/1), Label Des Obeaux (20/1), Gold Present (20/1), Alvarado (20/1), Regal Flow (25/1), Cogry (25/1), Indy Five (25/1), Mysteree (25/1), Sizing Codelco (28/1), Get On The Yager (28/1), Joe Farrell (33/1), West Approach (33/1), Benbens (40/1), Fact Of The Matter (50/1), Alzammaar (50/1), Pearl Swan (66/1), Straidnahanna (66/1), Work Du Breteau (100/1), Racing Europe (100/1), Boa Island (100/1)

VICENTE has won the last two renewals of the days feature contest and he can complete a hat-trick by taking this off a mark 4lb higher than when winning here last year. The selection has been below par on ground softer than ideal the last twice but with good ground forecast today he can get the better of Fagan who hails from a leading stable and is likely to appreciate the step up in trip on his first outing since October. Ballyoptic finished a credible fourth in a Grade 1 last time out and he can claim third on handicap debut while Vintage Clouds, seventh in this 12 months ago is another likely to perform well.