17:10 Ayr

Monday 23 July 2018

All13:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Western House Hotel Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 59.58s

(6)

Corton Lad^t,v¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Josh Quinn| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74| BF| C| D

12/1

On a very handy mark, but was a beaten favourite over 1m2f here earlier in the month (a race he'd won in 2015); back up in trip, but no win since making all in the Buttonhook (1m5f) at Hamilton in May 2017.

Form: 755344

(4)

Akamanto²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Andrew Breslin| T: R M Smith| OR: 73

9/4

Prominent racer who has proved admirably consistent since picked out of a Leicester seller for 10,000gns; 6lb above his last winning mark, but runner-up to subsequent Ripon Bell Ringer winner Benadalid at Chester in June (1m4f+, good to firm).

Form: 04-2312

(1)

Question Of Faith³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Patrick Vaughan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 67| CD

6/1

Two-time course winner who was completing the hat-trick when winning off a 3lb lower mark over 1m7f (soft) here in October 2017; back to her best latest when caught close home by Braes Of Lochalsh; dropped marginally in trip.

Form: 11-4652

(5)

Clemento^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Sebastian Woods| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67

3/1

Remains a maiden on the Flat after nine starts (ex Roger Charlton-trained), but made a winning hurdles debut at Cartmel in May (2m1f, novice good); interesting to see if he can translate that improvement back to the level.

Form: 433-936

(8)

Glenbank King^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 66| CD

7/1

Veteran who was a shock 50/1 winner over C&D in July 2017, and races off just a 1lb higher mark here. Having his first start since September 2017 when finishing fourth of six to Four Kingdoms (beaten 2+L) over C&D earlier this month.

Form: 01307-4

(2)

Braes Of Lochalsh^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 57| CD

4/1

Narrowly got the better of Question Of Faith over 1m7f here in June, but much more moderate (without blinkers) since; has undertaken plenty of his racing at this track and looks fairly well treated on his C&D form from July 2015 (good/good to soft).

Form: 505315

(7)

Eyreborn¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Paula Muir| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 49

40/1

Stablemate of Corton Lad; has scarcely beaten a single rival in four starts at this track in 2018 (1m2f-1m7f), and remains a 17-race maiden; fallen 11lb in the weights since May.

Form: 59-8006

Non-Runners

(3)

Luv U Whatever¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 8

T: Mrs Marjorie Fife J: Rhiain Ingram

Forecasts

Akamanto (9/4), Clemento (3/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (4/1), Luv U Whatever (9/2), Question Of Faith (6/1), Glenbank King (7/1), Corton Lad (12/1), Eyreborn (40/1)

Plenty of course form in which to delve deep with five of the eight declared runners either past course or course and distance winners. Both Braes Of Lochalsh and Question of Faith are split by fine margins, with either horse unlikely to be troubled should further rain arrive, whilst Glenbank King should be stronger for his recent C&D comeback fourth (a race he'd won at odds of 50/1 in 2017). Corton Lad is well handicapped on his Buttonhook win in 2017, but consistently fails to deliver the goods, so the obvious play is fellow front-runner AKAMANTO. His recent Chester defeat was handsomely franked on Saturday with Benadalid taking the feature Ripon Bell Ringer (Class 2) handicap.