15:35 Ayr

Wednesday 23 May 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:40

Hendrick's Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 37.27s

(8)

Helovaplan⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 80| D

5/4

Carries a 6lb penalty for winning at Thirsk last time out but that was a nice win and this trip on quick ground usually allows him to show his best.

Form: 1446-31

(6)

Strong Steps¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 81| CD

11/1

Most recent win came over C&D last June off 1lb higher, but has failed to beat a rival home on his last two starts, including on seasonal debut last time out.

Form: 81407-0

(4)

Royal Regent¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 80| CD

11/1

Usually goes well here but all three career wins have come on soft and he was down the field on good to firm at Musselburgh last time out.

Form: 33236-8

(5)

Koybig³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 77| D

11/1

Some good form over this trip on the AW, but hasn't been up to that level on turf including when down the field at Limerick last time out.

Form: 21119-5

(9)

Club Wexford⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 74

11/4

On the same mark as when third behind Helovaplan at Thirsk last time, meaning he's better off at the weights with his penalty-carrying rival. Could finish even closer this time around.

Form: 3980-73

(2)

Rock N Rolla²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 72

8/1

Yet to win in handicap company despite some good efforts towards the end of last year, and needs to improve on a low-key debut performance when finishing ninth at Wetherby.

Form: 99654-9

(10)

Al Khan^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 69| C

25/1

Winner of a claimer at Redcar last time out but much longer since he won in handicap company and all his wins have come over shorter trips than this one.

Form: 913531

Non-Runners

(7)

Kharbetation¹²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: S A Gray

(1)

Cosmic Ray¹⁶

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: J L Eyre J: D Allan

(3)

Zeshov¹⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 7

T: Rebecca Bastiman J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Helovaplan (5/4), Club Wexford (11/4), Zeshov (7/1), Rock N Rolla (8/1), Kharbetation (8/1), Koybig (11/1), Royal Regent (11/1), Strong Steps (11/1), Cosmic Ray (14/1), Al Khan (25/1)

The key piece of form here is HELOVAPLAN's defeat of Club Wexford (third) at Thisk last time out. The former will find this trickier carrying a 6lb penalty, but won nicely there and just edges preference to make it two wins in a row here, with conditions set to suit once again. His reopposing rival should go very well though, as should, while Zeshov could build on a remote second, also at Thirsk, last time out.