15:30 Ayr

Saturday 23 June 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:1016:5017:25

Scottish Sun On Sunday Champion Handicap

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 1m 38.68s

(7)

Kings Gift³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 96| C

13/2

No won since his juvenile days (is a 7f course winner), but heads the weights for a reason, commanding respect on his pair of third-placed efforts in Class 2 York handicaps last summer, including when beaten just over 3L by Mojito in August.

Form: 3030-96

(3)

Hayadh²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 95

12/1

Beaten just a neck by Original Choice in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (at Wetherby) early last month, but well held back over 7f at York latest; 0 from 3 over this trip.

Form: 189620

(4)

Mythical Madness^v¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

10/1

Plenty of near misses, including at Epsom on his penultimate start (1m+ soft), but no win for over 12 months. Various excuses latest (restless in stalls, met trouble in running); handicapper has him in his grasp, hence the 5lb claimer.

Form: 292926

(10)

Third Time Lucky³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| D

5/1

2015 Cambridgeshire winner (1m1f), but just the sole Wolverhampton AW success since (beat Mythical Madness); never involved when finishing seventh of ten to Afaak in the Hambleton Handicap (1m) at York last month.

Form: 630637

(2)

Masham Star¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| C| D

6/1

Has raced all over the world in his 40-race career and takes his racing very well; finished fourth on his penultimate start over an extended mile at Epsom (Mythical Madness second); his earlier 7f course second (13/8f) came in a much lesser race.

Form: 300240

(9)

Nicholas T²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: J S Goldie| OR: 89| CD

3/1

Half length winner of this race in 2017 from a 2lb lower mark (Ayr form figures; 512395L2113); working back to his best with a surprise second to Big Country in the 1m2f Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar latest; chance.

Form: 907-U02

(8)

Whatsthemessage²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 88| C| D

25/1

Notched a four-timer in late 2017 (7f-1m1f), but is still paying the price to the handicapper; no great promise in two starts over varying trips so far in 2018, but stable back in better form.

Form: 1104-08

(5)

Mutarakez³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 85| BF| D

14/1

Snapped a lengthy losing run when staying on strongly to justify market support at Pontefract in early May (1m soft); ran well off this 6lb higher mark since, but a slight concern as to how effective he is on ground on the fast side of good.

Form: 360213

(11)

Balestra^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

11/2

Left Charles Hills for 48,000 gns in November 2017, but has made the perfect start for his new owners winning twice in lesser races over 7f (Catterick and Haydock); up 3lb in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 8105-11

(6)

Jay Kay^h²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: K R Burke| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Six-time winner at Ayr (7f-1m) and should draw benefit from his seasonal reappearance at Leicester (1m) late last month, but needs genuine soft ground in order to put his best foot forward; opposed.

Form: 32118-7

(1)

First Flight¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: B Ellison| OR: 77

18/1

102-rated in his pomp back in 2015; comfortable 7L winner of a 1m1.5f Wolverhampton claimer for Heather Main recently; claimed for 6,000 gns (trainer also claimed the second and third); much tougher, but an interesting jockey booking.

Form: 49-4661

Forecasts

Nicholas T (3/1), Third Time Lucky (5/1), Balestra (11/2), Masham Star (6/1), Kings Gift (13/2), Mythical Madness (10/1), Hayadh (12/1), Mutarakez (14/1), Jay Kay (16/1), First Flight (18/1), Whatsthemessage (25/1)

A good prize, and that hasn't gone unnoticed by the majority of Northern and Scottish based trainers. Jim Goldie is no stranger to a winner at Ayr and he saddles the 2017 victor NICHOLAS T who emerged from a spell in the wilderness with a much improved effort in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar latest. His amenable trainer will likely have him cherry-ripe for this valuable contest, so he rates as the tentative selection with others such as Kings Gift and Third Time Lucky also massively respected on their very strongest career formlines.