16:50 Ayr
Saturday 23 June 2018
All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:1016:5017:25
Sunsport Handicap (For The Winton Cup)
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 1m 5f 26y | Good (Good to Firm in places) | 13 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 2m 47.74s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
2017 Northumberland Plate fifth who bounced back from a tame effort in the Chester Cup to make all in a small field 1m4f handicap at Pontefract earlier this month (beat today's rival Final); up 3lb and will find it harder to dictate here.
Not seen since late April when a disappointing fourth of six at Ripon (11/8f); has previous C&D winning form, but best suited by some cut in the ground and opposed on that score today.
Showed a fair level of Flat form last year after winning a 1m1f Listed contest at Fontainebleau (very soft) in March 2017 and has had a winter over hurdles (Huntingdon winner); holds a Northumberland Plate entry.
Finished a close-up third to The Grand Visir over 2m at Haydock last month (good), and returns to his favoured course with track form figures reading; 2111.
Wears his heart on his sleeve and is standing up well to a busy spell of racing; twice a Chester winner (1m4.5f-1m5.5f), he proved ultra-competitive off this mark still when beaten just under 1L in York's Queen Mother's Cup last weekend.
Hasn't won since way back in July 2015 (2m Listed, Sandown), but did go close off a 3lb lower mark at Ripon in April when beaten a head by stablemate Mirsaale.
Sprung a 16/1 surprise over the extended 1m4f trip at Musselburgh a fortnight ago (Eye Of The Storm behind), but things panned out well for him there and whether or not he can repeat that form from a 4lb higher mark is debatable.
Stablemate of Star Of The East. Found wanting throughout the entire 2017 turf season after winning on the AW at Newcastle in March; beaten by front-runner My Reward on reappearance at Pontefract recently (1m4f); stamina doubts.
Notched a second Carlisle success when ridden out to score by 3L in a Class 4 handicap earlier this month (1m3f+); up 6lb, and in trip/grade so a career best effort is required.
No disgrace in chasing home Count Calabash at Ascot on his penultimate start (Speedo Boy fourth), and ran to a similar level in a stronger race over further (1m6f) at Goodwood next time; better strike-rate on the AW.
Twice a winner in three starts since wind surgery (1m4f), but rising quickly in the weights as a result; beaten (third) in a Class 3 handicap at Haydock latest and this is a further step up.
Improved with each start in 2018 and arrives seeking the hat-trick following back-to-back 2m wins (Ripon and Nottingham); 6lb higher and this drop back in trip is not ideal, but has his optimum ground conditions (fast).
Mixes hurdling with Flat racing with more of a focus on the former than the latter; won off this mark over C&D back in September 2016 (Class 3).
Forecasts
Euchen Glen (7/2), Northwest Frontier (9/2), Star Of The East (5/1), Speedo Boy (6/1), Kelly's Dino (7/1), New Society (11/1), Koeman (14/1), My Reward (14/1), Eye of The Storm (20/1), Final (22/1), Dance King (25/1), Brandon Castle (25/1), Nietzsche (28/1)
By far the toughest race on the card for punters to solve, so you'd be wanting to have more than one selection in an attempt to find the winner. However, we'll stick to the 1m4f Ascot formline featuring Count Calabash in which Koeman (second) finished two places and one length in front of the Ian Williams-trained SPEEDO BOY. The selection was having his first start since November (hurdles) so can be expected to improve. Interestingly, he holds a Northumberland Plate entry (next weekend) and his trainer demonstrated his prowess with Flat stayers landing the consolation race the Northumberland Vase (2017) with a similar dual-purpose type; the sadly ill-fated London Prize.
- Speedo Boy
- Euchen Glen
- Northwest Frontier
Prize Money
1st: £25,876.002nd: £7,700.003rd: £3,848.004th: £1,924.00
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