16:00 Ayr

Monday 30 July 2018

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Western House Handicap

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 2m 11.73s

(10)

Mutamaded¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 93| D

28/1

Tends to save best for Ripon, winning for the third time around there in May. Not as good since and while only 2lb higher here, is hard to make case for.

Form: 101507

(11)

Dubai Horizon²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Allan| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 91| BF| D

3/1

Yet to fire this season, including in couple of mile efforts recently with headgear tried (left off now). Goes back up in distance but remains tough to assess.

Form: 12-6045

(5)

Nicholas T¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: George Downing| T: J S Goldie| OR: 91| C

8/1

Knows the drill around here as a three-time winner (all over a mile). Runner-up in two recent visits over that trip, up in distance and stays this far. Strong claims.

Form: U02022

(9)

Mooltazem²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 91| CD

11/2

Followed up Haydock victory with narrow success over C&D last month but well held off increased mark since at Ripon and appears as though the handicapper may have his number for now.

Form: 202114

(1)

Speed Company⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P Makin| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90| CD

9/1

Former C&D scorer, potentially well-handicapped on last year's form but must prove he can locate it after a short break. Yard in good form.

Form: 050-688

(7)

Indian Chief⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 89| D

16/1

Placed over around this trip on his two most recent starts. Latest effort came on good ground at Chester in May and he returns from a break racing off a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 57-7623

(8)

Al Destoor^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: J Candlish| OR: 83| D

16/1

Another that would have to rank as a leading contender on best of 2017 form, both runs this year have fallen significantly short of what is required.

Form: 3620-78

(6)

Dukhan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: H Palmer| OR: 89

3/1

AW on final start at two, plenty promise shown early this term, including when running subsequent Royal Ascot winner Old Persian very close at Newmarket (1m2f, good, good to soft) in May. Poor since in stronger races than this.

Form: 1-23607

(3)

Carnageo^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| D

20/1

Has dropped below the winning mark from York last September over this trip but his recent efforts aren't inspiring.

Form: 9-78875

(2)

Testa Rossa^b⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 73| CD

40/1

Dropping in the weights, this four-time course winner stays this trip (three-time C&D scorer), but has been out of form just recently and is opposable on that basis from 1lb out of the weights.

Form: 069336

(4)

Ventura Dragon^p¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Nathan Evans| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

12/1

Produced career-best when winning six-runner handicap at Doncaster (1m2f, heavy) on return in March. Rated 4lb higher now and hasn't been sighted since. Betting may guide.

Form: 51063-1

Forecasts

Dubai Horizon (3/1), Dukhan (3/1), Mooltazem (11/2), Nicholas T (8/1), Speed Company (9/1), Ventura Dragon (12/1), Al Destoor (16/1), Indian Chief (16/1), Carnageo (20/1), Mutamaded (28/1), Testa Rossa (40/1)

Nicholas T knows this place better than most and has been going well here over shorter trips of late, he looks a major contender now upped in distance once more and should be going close. DUKHAN however might be worth taking a chance on. Hugo Palmer's charge ran a stormer behind Old Persian at Newmarket in May and, while he's disappointed since, he has run in better races and on quicker ground. These conditions may see him repeat the form that saw him scare that subsequent Group 2 scorer. Ventura Dragon was a winner at Doncaster in March in his only 2018 sighting and needs monitoring while Speed Company could get involved if getting back near last year's form.