17:20 Ayr

Thursday 20 September 2018

All13:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:20

Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 3m 5.11s

(16)

Buonarroti^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 68| CD

5/2

On the premises over 2m (good to soft) at York 11-days ago, and although he isn't a frequent winner (3-44), two of those successes have come at this track (with cut); 2lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 586535

(10)

Qasr⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 68| C

14/1

Held on gamely to score by a neck here last month (1m2f, good) when beating the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained French Resistance; runner up in a 1m5f+ heavy ground NHF race in November 2017; yet to tackle this trip under Flat rules; trainer saddles three.

Form: 4-53194

(4)

Bodacious Name²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67| BF

8/1

Not won since scoring off a 14lb lower mark at Nottingham in August 2017 (2m, heavy), but tough to knock for consistency having threatened to add to that tally all summer; merits respect on suitable ground.

Form: 247-327

(15)

Hillgrove Angel⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 66WS

50/1

No joy in two starts for this trainer in 2018 following a 21-month absence from racing (formerly with Iain Jardine); handled soft ground previously for David Evans, but all hopes seemingly pinned on recent wind surgery proving successful.

Form: 2189/88

(14)

Mystikana¹⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 65WS

50/1

Ten-race maiden on turf (dual 1m4f AW winner); no joy on sole turf start in 2018, and off the track since May having undergone wind surgery; tough to consider with this trainer holding a stronger hand with his other runners.

Form: 20-3347

(8)

Misscarlett¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 64

12/1

Lightly raced filly who appears to be working back to form (sixth of 14 at Carlisle latest); evidently needs cut in the ground as demonstrated by her 1m2f maiden win (for Sally Haynes) at Pontefract 12 months ago; feasibly treated off a mark of 64.

Form: 310-76

(5)

Beer With The Boys³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: M R Channon| OR: 70

7/1

Six-race maiden; fallen 5lb since introduced to handicapping, and not overly exposed (cost 120,000gns as a yearling); has the pedigree for this trip (half-brother to Tungsten Strike), but mainly untested on soft ground thus far.

Form: 043435

(6)

Buyer Beware¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 62

5/1

Competes off the same mark as when winning at Catterick (1m4f, good) in June, and in fairness probably found his stamina stretched at York latest (2m); that said, others appear far more likely candidates.

Form: 601578

(17)

Ishallak^b1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 69| BF

33/1

Woeful effort on handicap debut (100/30jf) over 1m4f at Epsom recently, and returns to the track wearing blinkers; out of his depth prior to that in a trio of 1m2f novice contests, so difficult to assess ability wise.

Form: 5358

(13)

Sempre Presto²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65

25/1

Shown her best form so far at Pontefract (1m4f), and by Nathaniel (€50,000 foal) might ideally be suited by a test of stamina; 2lb below her last winning mark, with her effectiveness on soft ground the unknown factor.

Form: 135235

(9)

Handsome Bob^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 61

33/1

Commanding winner at Thirsk last month (1m4f Class 6, soft), and can probably be excused his latest effort over 2m on the AW at Newcastle; 4lb above his last winning mark; represents a trainer who saddles two other runners.

Form: 667149

(7)

Mystical Mac^p⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 60

20/1

Eight-race maiden; never really in contention when tackling 1m4f for the first-time at Catterick last week (fifth of 14 to Firby); scope to build upon that from a lowly mark, but needs to prove himself with cut (largely untried).

Form: 524555

(2)

Palindrome²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 51| BF

11/1

His sole win in 23 starts came over 1m1f at Carlisle in June (5lb higher today). However, he has found the frame in each of his last three starts, including over 1m4f at Southwell latest (beaten ¾L).

Form: 944232

(1)

Pammi¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55

15/2

Two-time winner in 14 starts, proving her stamina over 1m4f at Hamilton last month when beating Life Knowledge by 6L; solid enough since despite the inevitable weights rise, but more on her plate here on softer ground.

Form: 135124

(3)

Wowsham^p⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: L Smyth| OR: 51

80/1

No worthwhile form so far (0-5), but worth noting that this is his first attempt at racing on a soft surface, and that coincides with making his English handicap debut; third start for Lee Smyth (ex-Keith Dalgleish).

Form: 707-66

Non-Runners

(12)

Braes Of Lochalsh¹³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: J S Goldie J: Phil Dennis

(11)

Northern Sky²⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: A Keatley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Buonarroti (5/2), Buyer Beware (5/1), Beer With The Boys (7/1), Pammi (15/2), Bodacious Name (8/1), Palindrome (11/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (11/1), Misscarlett (12/1), Northern Sky (12/1), Qasr (14/1), Mystical Mac (20/1), Sempre Presto (25/1), Handsome Bob (33/1), Ishallak (33/1), Mystikana (50/1), Hillgrove Angel (50/1), Wowsham (80/1)

With 17-declared runners that opens up the four-place EW option, so we'll select three against the field. Buonarroti isn't a regular winner, but has slipped in the weights and will be well suited by both track and ground conditions. Conversely Bodacious Name is probably a fraction high in the weights (due to his consistent form profile), but is also deserving of respect under these conditions. However, a speculative dart is aimed at the unexposed filly MISSCARLETT. She needs to continue to step forward after her light campaign, but with proven soft ground form (maiden) in the book, the handicapper might be slightly underestimating her ability off her current mark of 64.