14:10 Ayr

Saturday 9 March 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Menabrea Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 5m 28.00s

Stoney Rover⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 120| D

4/1

Has improved for softer ground this season, winning twice at Hexham. Not disgraced when held by two shorter-priced runners last time (good) at Kelso. Return to soft should help. Not ruled out.

Form: 3U2123

Bluefortytwo^h1¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart

12/1

Promise in two bumpers, but couldn't live up to that on his hurdles debut here (2m, heavy) in November. Hood now fitted, which might help, as may longer trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 24-6

Carry On Arcadio³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

2/1

Made a promising hurdles debut here after a lengthy absence, when fourth last time. Step up in trip looks positive. May well finish much closer.

Form: 4/4

Curramore⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| C

9/1

Backed up his Sligo bumper win for Charles Byrnes with success in that sphere on debut for this trainer here (soft) under a penalty in January. This trip looks a good place to start over hurdles. Short-listed.

Form: 6-611

Dunly⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J EwartWS

22/1

0-7 under rules and has not gone on over hurdles after some reasonably promising bumper form. Had a wind op since last run, so check market for hints at better to come.

Form: 223/7-76

Go Guarantor¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 95

50/1

Couldn't win in 16 starts under either code in Ireland, where his best hurdles runs were his last two. Lost a front shoe and made jumping errors on stable debut. More needed.

Form: 780-229

Largy Prospect¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan

16/1

Irish point winner who never raced while in the care of Charlie Longsdon. Raced keenly on rules debut last month. Wasn't disgraced there, but might be more of a work in progress.

Form: 66271/6

Sebastian's Wish¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish

80/1

Four-time Flat/AW winner at up to 2m. Couldn't get closely involved on debut over hurdles at Catterick and soft ground has to be a concern.

Form: 5

The Boo Box¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

100/1

Well held in two bumpers and tailed off on hurdles debut. Others preferred.

Form: 970

Welsh Rarebit¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 118

5/2

Placed in two bumpers last year. Showed improved form here two starts ago, and backed that up with a similar effort last time. More needed for the win, but should again be competitive.

Form: 63-3732

Ciarabella¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: I A Duncan

100/1

Modest performer in bumpers and over hurdles, with no major improvement when last of 13 last time. Can only watch.

Form: 963-70

Forecasts

Carry On Arcadio (2/1), Welsh Rarebit (5/2), Stoney Rover (4/1), Curramore (9/1), Bluefortytwo (12/1), Largy Prospect (16/1), Dunly (22/1), Go Guarantor (50/1), Sebastian's Wish (80/1), The Boo Box (100/1), Ciarabella (100/1)

Curramore should be capable of going close now making the switch to hurdles, while Stoney Rover can't be ruled out. Bluefortytwo and Welsh Rarebit can both have cases made, but preference is for CARRY ON ARCADIO, who went well after a long absence last time.