15:25 Ayr

Saturday 3 November 2018

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Tennent's Cup Scottish Champion Hurdle Trial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 3m 48.7s

Chti Balko²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 142| BF| D

6/1

Winner at Haydock on heavy ground back in December 2017 off a 7lb lower mark. Not so good since and now returns from a seven-month break and looks in the grip of the handicapper.

Form: 415392-

Taxmeifyoucan⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 135| D

5/1

Comes here with plenty of potential having had a nice pipe opener on the flat in September. Only beaten 1L off 5lb lower at Kelso back in April and if he's improved since then he will be a major player here.

Form: 1U130-

Le Patriote^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135

5/4

Landed an Ascot handicap in February, but was pulled up off 8lb higher in the Imperial Cup at Sandown when last seen in March. Has been given time to recover and shrewd stable can get one ready to win after a break.

Form: 9741P-8

Tonto's Spirit^h¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 132| C| D

16/1

Showed the benefit of wind surgery when winning well at Cartmel when last seen back in May. Up 11lb in the weights for that victory which asks a whole new question off a break.

Form: 73342-1

Crezic²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 123| BF| D

12/1

Sold out of Gordon Elliot's yard for £25,000 prior to run on the flat on stable debut at Kempton last month. Makes handicap debut here having been running well over fences previously. Interesting, especially if strong in betting.

Form: 3-13222

Martila^h¹²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 121| CD

7/2

Won this race last year off a 2lb lower mark having had a prep run. Not so good in only three starts since but obvious claims back here if fit and ready to go.

Form: 2/215-24

Beau Et Sublime^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 115| D

25/1

Making debut for this yard when well held at Perth in September. Doesn't look particularly well treated at present and others preferred. Out the weights.

Form: 27/2267

Non-Runners

Potters Story³²⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: P & M Bowen J: James Bowen

Golden Jeffrey³⁷

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: I Jardine J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Le Patriote (5/4), Martila (7/2), Potters Story (7/2), Taxmeifyoucan (5/1), Chti Balko (6/1), Crezic (12/1), Tonto's Spirit (16/1), Golden Jeffrey (16/1), Beau Et Sublime (25/1)

Martila won this race last year off just a 2lb lower mark and has obvious claims of a repeat if fit and ready to go. TAXMEIFYOUCAN is a horse with lots of potential to kick on in this sphere and looks interesting here having had a pipe opener on the flat last month. It will be interesting to see what the market makes of Potters Story on return from an absence.