16:30 Ayr

Saturday 9 March 2019

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

Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 26.9s

Uppertown Prince^p1⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| CD

14/1

Has appeared to be in love with chasing on his last two starts, so returns to hurdles in a revival bid with first-time cheekpieces on. No easy task from this mark under top weight.

Form: 2214-4F

Better Getalong⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 135| C

11/2

Goes well here and on testing ground. Same mark as when 4½L second in a class 2 handicap at Haydock two starts ago. Grade 3 proved a bit too much last time, but has to be considered here.

Form: 312P-26

One For Harry²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 132| D

14/1

Patchy form in the last 12-months or so, but back on a handy mark, and with a decent claimer up and the going to suit, he could run a big race.

Form: 234-854

Buster Valentine⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 130| C

3/1

Scored here (2m, heavy) on his hurdles debut, before improving under a penalty when upped in trip and adding to that success at Newcastle next time. Highly tried last time, and not disgraced. Looks to have a squeak from this mark on handicap debut.

Form: 1112

Silva Eclipse²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129| BF

5/1

Mudlark who has won one of his nine starts over hurdles. Unlucky to keep being nudged up the handicap despite three successive seconds, so that next win isn't looking any easier to achieve.

Form: 8-44222

Spirit Of Kayf⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 128| C

12/1

Took a good step back in the right direction last time, on just his second start since November 2016. Same mark here, and return to longer trip also looks positive, so can't rule him out.

Form: 01F1/54

Eternally Yours⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 127

5/1

In good form and won easily in a class 4 event at Newcastle last time. 9lb rise looks stiff enough given the strength of the opposition here, so if she can follow-up, this will be a very good effort.

Form: 4141-21

Too Many Chiefs⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 126| C| D

25/1

Stays well and acts on soft, as evidenced by his Catterick win last time. 4lb rise takes him to a career-high mark, so he needs to find further improvement, especially in a better contest.

Form: 118-451

Dubai Angel⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 125

22/1

Placed over both fences and hurdles last season, but well below that form in all three starts this term, and looks to be stable's second string going into this.

Form: 332-99P

Traditional Dancer^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 125| D

33/1

Hard to catch right and he is still 5lb higher than his last win at Perth last May. Has run with credit several times under both codes since, but others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 12424U

Seemorelights⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 124

12/1

Had looked potentially useful prior to a long absence, and so was entitled to need his Haydock return in December, when beaten 21L. 3lb drop won't harm, and would be interesting if the market vibes prove positive.

Form: 67133/4

Crixus's Escape⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 122

16/1

Scored twice as a novice at Hexham last season. Lost his way a bit this time, but better effort here (2m) latest and not written off from 1lb higher.

Form: 7/11-743

Forecasts

Buster Valentine (3/1), Eternally Yours (5/1), Silva Eclipse (5/1), Better Getalong (11/2), Spirit Of Kayf (12/1), Seemorelights (12/1), One For Harry (14/1), Uppertown Prince (14/1), Crixus's Escape (16/1), Dubai Angel (22/1), Too Many Chiefs (25/1), Traditional Dancer (33/1)

Silva Eclipse is much respected, but at the same time vulnerable, while the Nicky Richards' pair Better Getalong and One For Harry could both runs big races. However, BUSTER VALENTINE gets the nod on his handicap debut from what looks a workable mark. Eternally Yours and Seemorelights are others of interest.