16:30 Ayr

Monday 30 July 2018

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

Parkdean Resorts Handicap

Off time: 16:34 | Winning time: 1m 11.86s

(10)

Desert Frost^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: P J McDonald| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 87| D

7/2

Maiden winner at Doncaster last year, career-best last time at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) when just edged out. Raised 2lb, remains of interest as long as the ground doesn't ease too much.

Form: 16-2332

(9)

My Name Is Rio⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 81| C| D

16/1

Course winner, stepped up markedly on his seasonal debut when finishing a neck second over 6f at Thirsk (good to soft) in June. Off since, a repeat of that should see him involved in the finish and likely gets ground to suit.

Form: 8587-02

(1)

Dark Defender^v¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| CD

9/1

Former C&D winner, just 1-18 since being gelded and has now dropped below previous winning mark. Should be suited by the forecast easing ground having raced on good to firm lately.

Form: 360480

(5)

Kenny The Captain⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| CD

6/1

Former C&D winner, scored at Thirsk last term at this trip off mark of 73 on soft going. Returned from a break with brave second at Redcar (6f, good to firm) and runs here from the same mark eight days on.

Form: 24025-2

(8)

Tommy G¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: George Downing| T: J S Goldie| OR: 78| CD

12/1

Largely consistent sort, all three career wins have come around here (3-32 all told) including last time out over 7f (good). Rated 3lb higher now, now worries dropping in trip and should be able to have a say.

Form: 351731

(3)

Saryshagann¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78

11/1

Useful performer in France (three-time winner) and has shaped with some promise since joining David O'Meara after two years off. Not beaten all that far at Yarmouth latest in claiming handicap, denied room late on. Yard going well, interesting.

Form: 68/5074

(2)

Giant Spark⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 74| DWS

20/1

Successful four times but most recent success came at Navan (6f, yielding-to-soft) in October 2016. Well-handicapped on his best form but held on three previous starts this season and needs recent wind operation to have an effect.

Form: 750-070

(6)

Royal Residence¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: J Tate| OR: 78| BF

11/4

Lightly-raced maiden who has posted improved efforts both starts in handicap company, latest when beaten just a neck over this trip at Haydock (good to firm) 10 days ago. Should have more to come.

Form: 624-22

(4)

Militia⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| BF

8/1

Very consistent in maiden/novices' events and managed to raise things a notch when scoring in a 5f Thirsk maiden (good to firm) on his reappearance in May. 5L second of nine in Ripon handicap (6f, good to firm) same month, off since and more needed.

Form: 3433-12

(7)

Penny Pot Lane²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 66| D

16/1

Held in five starts this season and handicap mark is falling as a result, no tangible improvement in first-time hood (discarded) four weeks ago at Pontefract (6f, good to firm).

Form: 4-06465

Forecasts

Royal Residence (11/4), Desert Frost (7/2), Kenny The Captain (6/1), Militia (8/1), Dark Defender (9/1), Saryshagann (11/1), Tommy G (12/1), Penny Pot Lane (16/1), My Name Is Rio (16/1), Giant Spark (20/1)

David O'Meara's team are in fine tune right now and his SARYSHAGANN is worth following here at what may be decent odds. A three-time winner in France, the gelding shaped well at Yarmouth this month in a claiming handicap and wasn't beaten far despite struggling for room late on. He also ran well over C&D in May and could land a race like this. Desert Frost produced a solid effort at Hamilton last time and is capable for Godolphin while former C&D winners Kenny The Captain and Dark Defender have their merits, with the former favoured. Tommy G loves it here while Haydock second Royal Residence is a potential improver in a race where plenty have claims.