14:00 Ayr

Saturday 22 September 2018

All13:2514:0014:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

William Hill Supporting The Fight Against Parkinson's Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 44.68s

(7)

Gulf Of Poets²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 99| D

33/1

Soft ground and a mile suit him well, as he showed when ploughing through the Haydock mud to score easily in April (Fire Brigade 3½l away in second, 10lb better off today). May have needed latest run after a break and could easily bounce back here.

Form: 83-1139

(11)

Chatez²⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: A King| OR: 98| D

12/1

Useful handicapper back in the day but nit seen much on a racecourse in recent times and comes here off the back of another long absence. Conditions fine but will surely need the run after a layoff.

Form: 10301/2-

(13)

Fire Brigade⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: M L W Bell| OR: 95| D

4/1

Keeps threatening to win a big race again, fancied for the Lincoln but disappointed and since then, has yet to catch fire this year. Ground to make up with Gulf Of Poets on earlier form and although likely to be on the premises, others preferred.

Form: 285533

(6)

Dayking²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 95

5/1

Totally unexposed after just three starts, winning the middle one at Catterick and then putting in a solid second at Kempton last time. Big question mark is whether he can reproduce that on slower turf, but has to be considered all the same.

Form: 2-12

(3)

Waarif²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

12/1

Has been pretty consistent over a mile (and slightly further) for much of the year but most of his better form has been on quicker ground, and with conditions being as testing as they are, it will ask a new question. Others make more appeal.

Form: 211414

(12)

Isomer^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

20/1

Bit hit-and-miss but very good on a going day and he bounced right back to his best form at Ascot last time. Trip fine and handles some cut, but yet to race on ground that's likely to be testing. Might be best watched today.

Form: 301091

(9)

Borderforce²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 94| D

13/2

Won't have any problem with conditions at all, having ploughed through the Longchamp mud in April (for another yard) and back to form when successful at Ripon last time. 2lb rise more than fair and he looks a contender here.

Form: 610001

(10)

Set In Stone²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: R J Osborne| OR: 89| D

20/1

No problem at all with soft ground and trip is fine, as she showed when winning at Musselburgh around this time last year but two efforts this summer have hardly set the world alight. Fair mark if he can bounce back, but risky.

Form: 16-2406

(2)

Mikmak^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| BF| D

6/1

Consistent this term and conditions probably fine, but needs a bit more off this mark after finishing behind Borderforce at Ripon last time. Others malke a bit more appeal.

Form: 223126

(1)

Borodin¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

7/1

Knows how to win when the opportunity arises and once again showed these conditions hold no terrors when bouncing back to form at Ripon last time out. 4lb higher here but may not have finished progressing yet, and dangerous to discount.

Form: 412201

(8)

Salt Whistle Bay⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Mitchell| T: Rae Guest| OR: 87| D

20/1

Has plenty of form to his name when ground conditions are softer underfoot, and his defeat of Ripp Orf at Yarmouth in May reads very well. Needs to put a couple of poor efforts behind him but this more suitable, and could go well.

Form: 12-1206

(4)

Porth Swtan²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Edward Greatrex| T: C Hills| OR: 90| D

7/1

Has progressed nicely this year and kept that good run going with a game win at Beverley last time out (10f). Goes up another 4lb and likely very soft ground asks a new question, but chances if he handles it.

Form: 22-1811

Non-Runners

(5)

Dolphin Vista²

Weight: 10-4| Age: 5

T: R M Beckett J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Fire Brigade (4/1), Dayking (5/1), Mikmak (6/1), Borderforce (13/2), Borodin (7/1), Porth Swtan (7/1), Dolphin Vista (8/1), Waarif (12/1), Chatez (12/1), Set In Stone (20/1), Salt Whistle Bay (20/1), Isomer (20/1), Gulf Of Poets (33/1)

The ground is an unknown for plenty of these, and it may pay to stick with the proven performers in what promise to be testing conditions. BORDERFORCE still looks on the right side of the handicapper after his latest Ripon win and with soft ground a plus point, he can score again before the weight finally catches up with him. Salt Whistle Bay would be really interesting if coming back to his earlier Yarmouth form and this ground gives him the chance to do so. He, along with Thursday's winner Dolphin Vista, look the dangers, although Porth Swtan could have a say if handling the ground.