16:10 Ayr

Tuesday 22 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:1016:4517:1517:45

Celebrate At Award Winning Western House Hotel Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 1m 26.43s

(9)

Masham Star¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| C| D

13/8

Ran better than the form figure suggests in the Victoria Cup last time out and is dropped a useful 2lb here. Not the most frequent of winners but generally seen in stronger races than this and is one to strongly consider.

Form: 5-37300

(1)

War Department^b¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 85| D

20/1

All downhill since winning a handicap at Newcastle last summer, and hasn't won on turf since his May 2015 debut in a Leicester maiden.

Form: 008-760

(10)

Roaring Forties^b1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 83| D

20/1

Blinkers applied after a couple of lackluster efforts the last twice, but would prefer softer ground and draw is far from ideal.

Form: 40-7200

(3)

Sultan Baybars^b¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| D

6/1

Step in the right direction at Chester last time and dropped 2lb from that run. Goes well over this trip and looks close to a first win since the maiden he took on racecourse debut.

Form: 2689-04

(4)

Hajjam²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| BF| D

10/3

Consistent but creeping up the weights as a result and good to firm ground not sure to suit, with recent strong efforts having come on soft.

Form: 13232-3

(6)

Inner Circle²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| D

7/1

Not at his best at Pontefract last time out but return to 7f may help and has previous form on fast ground; one for the shortlist.

Form: 4020-29

(7)

Zebulon²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 77

11/1

Just 2lb higher than his most recent winning mark at Windsor in September, but a shorter trip than this likely preferable and 0-5 in Class 4 handicaps.

Form: 216-884

(11)

Khelman^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| C| D

25/1

Course winner in the past and operates over this trip, but not at his best in his recent efforts (especially last time out), and needs something of a revival now.

Form: 8070-50

(2)

Highly Sprung¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Eyre| OR: 71

25/1

All wins over 6f, though has run well over 7f in the past including on his final start of last year. Second start for this yard now but needs to take advantage of his apprentice rider's 5lb claim.

Form: 08403-7

Non-Runners

(12)

Tiercel¹⁸⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: Rebecca Bastiman J: P Makin

(8)

Jay Kay²¹²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 9

T: K R Burke J: Joey Haynes

(5)

Kirkham²⁵

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: Miss J A Camacho J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Masham Star (13/8), Hajjam (10/3), Jay Kay (11/2), Sultan Baybars (6/1), Inner Circle (7/1), Tiercel (7/1), Zebulon (11/1), Kirkham (12/1), War Department (20/1), Roaring Forties (20/1), Highly Sprung (25/1), Khelman (25/1)

Off top weight, MASHAM STAR could be the one to side with. He ran well in the Victoria Cup last time out off a 2lb higher mark, beaten less than five lengths despite finishing 12th, and in this much less competitive race he should be able to put in a very bold bid. Sultan Baybars seems to be going the right way and is another to consider, as well as Inner Circle on the return to this trip.