14:45 Ayr

Saturday 9 March 2019

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

Chaplin & Corks Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 40.5s

Another Mattie^t³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102| CD

9/2

Won over C&D in 2017 and was third at this meeting last year. Relishes testing conditions and looks a leading player now dropped in grade.

Form: 433-574

Steak And Spuds¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 98| D

10/1

Triple Irish point winner who returned to rules after a lengthy break to go point-to-pointing, to be beaten 13l last time. Up 10lb for this return to a handicap, and that looks harsh.

Form: 3-11457

Marlee Massie^p⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 95| C

14/1

Has twice won over fences on soft/heavy ground, both over shorter trips. Three ordinary runs over hurdles this season after a long layoff, so still needs to prove he retains sufficient ability to get competitive.

Form: 128/990

Chanceanotherfive^b1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 95| D

16/1

Scored twice in bumpers, before form tailed off over hurdles. Hinted at revival on debut for this trainer last time. Blinkers now fitted and 2lb drop, but soft ground does not look ideal.

Form: 4340P4

Asking For Answers³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: M Todhunter| OR: 95

7/1

Showed bits of promise here on his first three hurdles runs, and looked as though improvement could come after a better effort on his hurdles debut last time. Step up in trip positive. Could go well.

Form: 30P785

The Horsechesnut^p,t⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 94| D

16/1

Put poor run of form behind him in a Tramore chase when with David O'Brien two starts ago, but well below that again last time. Returns to this trainer for a fourth time with plenty to prove.

Form: P/PPP-26

Blaydon^p⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 93

10/1

Beaten 28L from a 3lb higher mark on his handicap debut last time. Step up in trip looks a good move, and could do better now.

Form: 37-4570

Emma Beag⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 93| CD

6/4

Took advantage of a sliding mark to win well over C&D last time. 9lb rise makes this tougher, but consistency not a strong suit, so may be worth taking on.

Form: 07269-1

Ska Ridge^h,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 89

80/1

Shown little so far in any start. Up in trip, but can only watch.

Form: 9-P096P

Just Brooke^t⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 82

33/1

Beaten 17L on her handicap debut here last time. 4lb drop and longer trip could help, but plenty more needed.

Form: 07P/4-67

Tommy The Rascal^p³⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Candlish| OR: 71

14/1

Sole success came when fresh back in 2016, but he returns from a year off here and has a fair bit to prove now, based on what we saw from him early last year.

Form: 533FF0-

Forecasts

Emma Beag (6/4), Another Mattie (9/2), Asking For Answers (7/1), Blaydon (10/1), Steak And Spuds (10/1), Tommy The Rascal (14/1), Marlee Massie (14/1), The Horsechesnut (16/1), Chanceanotherfive (16/1), Just Brooke (33/1), Ska Ridge (80/1)

Another Mattie has to be taken seriously now dropped to this level and should give a good account, while Blaydon may be on the verge of some improvement. Emma Beag clearly can't be ruled out, but preference is for ASKING FOR ANSWERS, who can make a successful step up in trip.