20:00 Ayr

Monday 4 June 2018

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Racing UK Handicap

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 1m 9.30s

(10)

Golden Steps¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85| D

7/1

Won 2016 Bunbury Cup for Marco Botti but lightly raced since for a number of different trainers. Ran well on third start for current yard over this C&D last time and despite top weight is possibly well handicapped if still retaining his old ability.

Form: 31/5-553

(5)

Muscika^v1⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| CD

3/1

Raised 4lb after failing by just a neck to score at Haydock last time in similar event. First-time visor may concentrate his mind and looks a player if in the same mood in bid to repeat last year's win in this event.

Form: 243-772

(2)

Shepherd's Purse^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: D Loughnane| OR: 83| D

4/1

Failed by just a neck to score in Ascot handicap penultimate start then possibly better effort in hot York 5f handicap last time when stayed on to be creditable sixth. This trip more suitable and could be a danger to all.

Form: 442-926

(12)

Related^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: J Fanning| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| D

16/1

Yard among the winners but this veteran hasn't really sparkled so far this season and may need a little more help from the handicapper before getting really competitive.

Form: 51-3877

(1)

Athollblair Boy⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 80| D

20/1

Not out of the first four in 11 starts over the last year and won three times at Newcastle AW this winter. 14lb higher than last turf outing when second at Doncaster last autumn so has to prove he is as effective on this surface as on Tapeta.

Form: 13-2121

(6)

Hee Haw¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Makin| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

8/1

Dropping back toward last winning rating and looked to be coming to hand when a fair sixth in similar event at Doncaster last time. Yard amnong the winner so is respected here.

Form: 153-306

(7)

Big Les¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 84| D

7/2

Showed he can handle quicker ground when scoring on seasonal return at Hamliton recently, staying on well over this trip. Raised 6lb so life will be tougher but won't be too far away.

Form: 33165-1

(8)

Imagine If²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 75

16/1

Ex-Irish gelding who seems best on an easy surface. Won at Southwell in April and decent third at Hamiltonlast month before never competitive latest at Ascot in decent race. Yard going well though so worth a market check.

Form: 981630

(9)

Cosmic Chatter^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 68| D

25/1

Best form on good or softer so needs some rain to enhance his chances. Never got into it at Hamilton latest on good to firm so on balance has something to find under these conditions.

Form: 35-7035

(3)

Gowanbuster^t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: S Corbett| OR: 75| BF| D

40/1

Lightly raced gelding won on second start taking Newcastle novice stakes in November. Ran creditably back there after winter break when third in similar company but well beaten there on handicap bow last month. Makes turf debut.

Form: 51-38

Non-Runners

(13)

Dark Defender¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: K Dalgleish J: Rowan Scott

(4)

My Name Is Rio³⁵

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: M Dods J: Callum Rodriguez

(11)

Van Gerwen¹⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: J L Eyre J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

Muscika (3/1), Big Les (7/2), Shepherd's Purse (4/1), My Name Is Rio (13/2), Golden Steps (7/1), Hee Haw (8/1), Dark Defender (10/1), Related (16/1), Imagine If (16/1), Athollblair Boy (20/1), Cosmic Chatter (25/1), Van Gerwen (25/1), Gowanbuster (40/1)

SHEPHERD'S PURSE has been contesting some decent races of late and is entitled to go well if he gets the gaps at the right time. Muscika won this race 12 months ago and is running back into form at the right time so could be a danger to all, and recent winner Big Les is also entitled to be in the thick of the action despite his penalty. Top weight Golden Steps could be thrown in on the best of his old form, while Dark Defender and Hee Haw are not without hope either.