14:10 Ayr

Monday 7 May 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:3518:10

Weddings At Western House Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 7.0s

Azert De Coeur^p1⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 100

28/1

Formerly with Venetia Williams, this gelding has proved disappointing since joining current connections, and is another to be dropping in the weights/eased in grade. Should stay this trip, but first time cheek-pieces need to provide a spark.

Form: 2P/5P94-

Wind Of Hope^b1⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 99| D

10/1

Lost a Sedgefield handicap (2m4f, soft) in the stewards' room on Boxing Day, yet was still hit with a rise in the weights and hasn't quite found the same level of form since. First time blinkers applied.

Form: P68D48-

Mighty Whitey^t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 98| D

18/1

The handicapper is giving this veteran a chance, and he's now 10lb lower than when hitting the frame at Hexham in September (2m heavy). Will appreciate the drying ground, but slightly vulnerable over this trip (best over 2m1f).

Form: 563095-

Braes Of Lochalsh^v⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 98| C

20/1

Had a spin on the Flat at Thirsk last week (1m4f), which might well have blown a few cobwebs away, but he hasn't really shown much in four attempts over timber. However, he's not totally exposed over hurdles just yet.

Form: 00/67-

Bafana Blue^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 96

16/1

Shown bits and bobs of form in novice company (mainly early season 2017/18), but his overall career profile isn't exactly overly flattering. Well beaten from a 4lb higher mark at Sedgefield latest (2m1f good).

Form: 325P49-

Ange Des Malberaux^b²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 96

8/1

Not won since July 2017 (2m1f Cartmel soft), but was narrowly repelled by Dolly's Dot over 2m4f at Sedgefield on his penultimate start. Ground excuses latest (bottomless), so faces a much more suitable test today.

Form: 38732P-

U Name It^p1⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 96

12/1

Has looked a shadow of his former self since returning from a lengthy absence in October, with form figures reading P,P,P,4,5. Dropped 24lb by the assessor overall, and now the first time cheek-pieces are applied.

Form: 5/PPP45-

Johnny Pedlar²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 96

18/1

Not had all that much experience so far, and dips his toe into handicap company for the first time. Upped in trip beyond 2m2f, on drying ground, so not totally out of the question that improvement could be forthcoming.

Form: 8/553-

Drumnagreagh¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 92

25/1

Raced exclusively on soft/heavy ground since her bumper days (June 2017). Not offered a great deal in a couple of recent starts in handicap company in Ireland, but tries a new trip today on ever drying ground.

Form: 070069-

Tomahawk Wood²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 92| BF| C| D

9/1

Beaten just over 9L (third) on his most recent start at Newcastle (2m4f+ heavy), and whilst his handicap mark suggests he'll be competitive as a previous Ayr winner, drying underfoot conditions are the unknown.

Form: 58/P833-

Final Reminder¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 92

10/1

Dropped 2lb for her handicap debut fifth to Fraser Canyon at Musselburgh in mid-December (3m good). Not helped by a mid-race blunder there, and her sole point-to-point success (3m) came on good to yielding ground.

Form: 19P5/55-

Green Tikkana⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Ewart| OR: 92

20/1

Has plenty of Ayr experience, but her trainer appears to be struggling to pinpoint her exact trip. Pulled up over 3m3f at Sedgefield (soft) in March. Eased 4lb in the handicap since.

Form: 6/6434P-

Bracka Lily¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D R Fox| T: N C Kelly| OR: 91

25/1

Now 0 from 5 over hurdles, and never figured in the slightest at Sedgefield last month (2m1f good) when finishing a distant 13th of 14 to Rockcliffe. Her previous attempt over this trip came on heavy ground at Tramore.

Form: 7800P0-

Read'em And Weep^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 88

50/1

Failed to complete in 50% of his starts under rules. Evidently of limited ability, but slipped up early at Perth latest (2m soft) before we could see if the application of cheek-pieces could bring about a degree of improvement.

Form: 4PP8UF-

Petite Ganache^b1³⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 88

5/1

Not entirely convincing attitude wise latest (May 2017), but lines up off a 12-month break in first time blinkers for just his second start in a handicap. Trainer also saddles the top-weight Top Billing.

Form: 08P0/7-

Ceegem^p⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 88

12/1

His best effort so far came over an extended 2m6f on good ground at Kelso in October (third). Jumped poorly in first time cheek-pieces on chasing debut at Hexham in March, so no surprise that he quickly switches back to hurdling.

Form: 9/4368F-

Devils Water^p1,h⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 87

10/1

A ten race hurdles maiden who is regressing as opposed to progressing. Dropped 9lb in the weights since February, and generally runs on decent ground (good/good to soft). First time cheek-pieces added to his hood.

Form: 8P/PP80-

Phantom Isle²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 86

14/1

Wind surgery doesn't appear to have brought about any improvement and he's been well beaten in a trio of hurdles starts since that operation. Runner up in a good ground bumper at Sedgefield in May 2017, so at least that's one positive.

Form: 0/27465-

Karingo^p¹⁹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 85

33/1

Races from a mark which is 2lb higher than he scored from at Perth in August (3m soft), but ran poorly on both subsequent starts and hasn't been seen competitively since late October. Fine on good ground.

Form: 9201P0-

Non-Runners

Top Billing²⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: N G Richards J: R D Day

Forecasts

Petite Ganache (5/1), Ange Des Malberaux (8/1), Top Billing (8/1), Tomahawk Wood (9/1), Final Reminder (10/1), Devils Water (10/1), Wind Of Hope (10/1), U Name It (12/1), Ceegem (12/1), Phantom Isle (14/1), Bafana Blue (16/1), Mighty Whitey (18/1), Johnny Pedlar (18/1), Green Tikkana (20/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (20/1), Bracka Lily (25/1), Drumnagreagh (25/1), Azert De Coeur (28/1), Karingo (33/1), Read'em And Weep (50/1)

A 20-runner handicap run on ever drying ground makes for a very tricky start to this additional National Hunt fixture at Ayr. Both TOP BILLING and Azert De Coeur are essentially above this grade of contest, and only slip into this company after a poor run of recent form. However, the former is too tempting to ignore for each-way purposes from a much reduced mark in an open, but mediocre looking contest. Others in with a shout include Ange Des Malberaux, U Name It and Braes Of Lochalsh.