17:05 Ayr

Friday 12 April 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:05

Fosters Your Local Family Funeral Directors Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 5m 57.90s

Follow The Bear¹⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| D

5/1

Lightly raced 7yo, stays this trip and handles good ground, so has some plus points, was still in front when falling at Cheltenham latest but that's not his first tumble, and he could do with a clear round to hold best chance.

Form: 37F4-7F

Arthurs Secret^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| CD

16/1

Likeable type that stays well, is very consistent and seems to handle most ground, so has plenty going for him in that respect. Another solid effort in better company than this last time, and should be on the premises again.

Form: 224513

My Way^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

4/1

Sixth start for top yard, and only second in a handicap, so improvement likely, and looks ready for a crack at this trip after a staying-on second at Kempton last time. Few too many runner-up spots for comfort, but a player all the same.

Form: 2-67232

Shoal Bay^b1,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

9/2

Now some 14lb lower than he was this time last year, so obviously well handicapped, but not progressing as expected and is starting to look a bit tripless as well. Plenty on against some upwardly mobile types today.

Form: 2-60564

Stop The World^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 117

5/1

Getting the hang of things with each run, and turned in best effort to date when second at Exeter over slightly shorter last time. Well related sort with more to come, you feel, and a big player here.

Form: 43-6352

Markov^t1¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 116

20/1

Thrown in here on best form but doesn't really seem to finish his races off as well as he might, and that's been evident again last couple of starts. May be a bit fitter here though, so not totally dismissed, but others look stronger.

Form: P7-8P25

From Eden^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 115| BF

3/1

Fourth start for Gordon Elliott, already a winner for the yard, and although breeding far from suggests he'll get this trip, is worth a try at it based on some staying-on efforts over shorter. Not dismissed lightly.

Form: 808122

Ballynanty^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 114| D

20/1

No issue with this trip or ground, and pops up from time to time to get his head in front, but wins have come in lesser company and he might be biting off a bit more than he can chew here. Others make more appeal.

Form: 5U31U2

Mill Forge^p,t³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 111

20/1

Lightly raced for his age (this will only be his 16th start), stays this far and acts well on good ground. Back from winter break to finish second at Gowran Park last month and can't be ruled out with another step forward here.

Form: 31-2672

Forecasts

From Eden (3/1), My Way (4/1), Shoal Bay (9/2), Stop The World (5/1), Follow The Bear (5/1), Arthurs Secret (16/1), Markov (20/1), Ballynanty (20/1), Mill Forge (20/1)

Another tricky race to finish off with. Old Mill Forge could go well, especially if he can build on his recent Gowran Park second, and the booking of Richard Johnson does take the eye. Follow The Bear could be a danger to all if putting in a better round of hurdling, but the vote goes to the genuine ARTHURS SECRET, who probably doesn't have that much in hand of the handicapper but continues to run well, and looks more likely to run his race than a few here. From Eden represents powerful connections, but is not guaranteed to get this trip, so a bigger danger could be Stop The World, who surely has his best days to come.