19:05 Ayr

Friday 22 June 2018

All17:5518:3019:0519:4020:1020:4521:15

AM Digital Handicap

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 3m 18.50s

(5)

Alphabetical Order³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 72

6/1

Placed over hurdles at Perth (2m, good) last month when returning from a break. Worth a check in the market on his first Flat start since joining this yard.

Form: 030624-

(9)

Hediddodinthe^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 70

9/2

Wore cheekpieces (retained since) for the first time when winning over an extended 2m at Newcastle in April. Held since including back on turf last time.

Form: 9-22167

(4)

Dew Pond¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68| D

10/1

Successful three times last year and improving with racing this time around. Worth a check in the market with the trip and ground in his favour.

Form: 1532/85

(6)

Question Of Faith³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 66| CD

8/1

Completed a hat-trick when winning over C&D on soft ground last October. Has looked in the grip of the handicapper in three starts this season and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 111-465

(2)

Uptown Funk^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66| BF

4/1

Placed over 2m at Ripon (good) and ran well when finishing fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, good-to-firm) in a first time hood (cheekpieces return here) subsequently. One to note in this contest.

Form: 363-434

(7)

Braes Of Lochalsh^b⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55| C| D

3/1

Wore blinkers (retained) for the first time when finishing third over 1m5f on good-to-firm ground here last time out. Interesting racing off the same mark.

Form: 60-5053

(1)

Archibelle¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Nathan Evans| T: R M Smith| OR: 54

17/2

Victorious on the AW at Newcastle in February. Held on turf the last twice including over C&D last time out.

Form: 681247

(8)

In Focus^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 53

25/1

Stepped up on his seasonal debut when finishing 4L sixth over C&D last time. Similar underfoot conditions forecast here and interesting to see how he fares.

Form: 8228-06

(3)

Jan Smuts^p,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 8-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 45

40/1

Well held on both starts since returning from a break. Well handicapped on his old form but probably best watched at present.

Form: 75-9760

Forecasts

Braes Of Lochalsh (3/1), Uptown Funk (4/1), Hediddodinthe (9/2), Alphabetical Order (6/1), Question Of Faith (8/1), Archibelle (17/2), Dew Pond (10/1), In Focus (25/1), Jan Smuts (40/1)

UPTOWN FUNK can register a first success on turf in what looks a competitive handicap. The selection should appreciate the return of cheekpieces and can see off Braes Of Lochalsh who finished a good third here last time out and has run well over C&D in the past. Alphabetical Order carries top weight here but ran well over hurdles last time out and can claim third on his return to the Flat.