15:35 Ayr

Monday 16 July 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:4017:10

Polyflor Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 31.0s

(3)

Dark Profit^p²⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 87| CD

12/1

Managed three wins from seven starts last year, though was poor on final sighting at Musselburgh. Returns from 280 days off and will need to be cherry ripe being 4lb higher than previous winning-mark but is a former C&D scorer.

Form: 191610-

(6)

Luis Vaz De Torres^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| CD

4/1

Narrow winner over C&D last month, though won going away. Struggled to make up ground from the rear at Epsom since, though still ran sound race. Entitled to be considered back around here.

Form: 9-58114

(1)

Magical Effect¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 84| BF

3/1

Chance he can win this but his run style means he regularly needs some good fortune. Runner-up last two starts at Chester and Beverley, typically finishing well. Crept back up 4lb for his troubles.

Form: 655522

(4)

Mudallel²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Makin| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 82

9/1

Twice an AW winner last year over a mile but remains a five-race maiden on turf. Poor effort last month at Haydock (1m, good to firm) on return to this surface, despite being backed. Questions to be answered.

Form: 4117-76

(7)

Zylan^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| D

4/1

Back-to-back Fibresand winner earlier in the year, and bounced back to form to make all the running at Beverley (7½f) last month. Front-runner was just pegged back under a penalty since at Haydock and should go well again.

Form: 087712

(5)

Strong Steps⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 79| C

12/1

Was beaten only by a progressive rival at Hamilton two starts ago. That was promising and remains potentially well-handicapped having run well enough over a mile here latest when finishing third of four.

Form: 063273

(8)

Viscount Loftus¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85

6/1

Has been running good races of late and first past the post at Chester penultimate start (demoted to second having carried the second right in the final furlong). Has a length to find on Magical Effect on Beverley run since, chance on revised terms.

Form: 9-535D4

(2)

Tommy G⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: George Downing| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| CD

10/1

Scored over 6f here last month and since run well over C&D eight days ago, though struggled upped to this grade at Musselburgh in between.

Form: 935173

Forecasts

Magical Effect (3/1), Luis Vaz De Torres (4/1), Zylan (4/1), Viscount Loftus (6/1), Mudallel (9/1), Tommy G (10/1), Strong Steps (12/1), Dark Profit (12/1)

The likes of Zylan and Viscount Loftus could vie for the lead here and while bother have their claims, they could set it up for Magical Effect, who tends to come with a daring late challenge. He has however crept back up in the weights for a few recent near misses and requires a certain amount of fortune to get there. LUIZ VAZ DE TORRES scored over C&D last month, with a bit in hand seemingly, and has run well enough from an unpromising position at Epsom since to suggest he can add to his tally.