14:25 Ayr

Saturday 13 April 2019

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2 Handicap)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 3m 39.20s

Verdana Blue³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154| D

4/1

Shocked then reigining champion hurdle Buveur D'Air in Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and was fifth in Champion Hurdle last month. Disappointed in this race 12 months ago off much lower mark but is better horse now.

Form: 0/11415-

Brain Power^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| D

11/1

Never going and pulled up when behind in Champion Hurdle last month. Previously landed Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham and rated 5lb lower now. Chance if recovered from torrid experience last time.

Form: F2F-41P

Leoncavallo^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 144| D

17/2

Decent hurdler who ran as though he might have blown up after six-month break when 13th in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Runs off same mark and has top jockey on board so is worth of consideration.

Form: 0/6-1320

Redicean⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 144| D

10/1

Fourth behind Verdana Blue in Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November. Campaigned on Flat since and could go well off 3lb lower mark than last hurdle outing.

Form: 1116-24

Malaya³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

7/1

6lb higher than fine win in Grade 3 Imperial Cup at Sandown last month. Missed Cheltenham so should be fairly fresh and looks to have strong claims if in similar form to latest success. Top yard seek third win in this race.

Form: 18-FF41

Caius Marcius^p¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 140| C| D

25/1

Won listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in September but not seen since disappointing at Cheltenham in Grade 3 event in November. Previously progressive profile but still to prove he can hold his own at this level.

Form: 221130

Nube Negra^t1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF

13/2

Third in last season's Fred Winter at Cheltenham Fetsival and third last time at Newbury last month off 3lb lower mark where stayed on well after being given plenty to do. First time tongue-tie now applied.

Form: 135-8B3

Anemoi⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 135| DWS

7/1

Two wins and two thirds over hurdles so far and returns having undergone wind surgery following fair third at Taunton last time out. Interesting if op brings about further improvement.

Form: 15-1133

Equus Amadeus^t1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 135

16/1

Won off 4lb lower mark at Doncaster in December but looked in handicapper's grip off this rating when held in third at Newbury last time out. More needed, but champion jockey doing the steering.

Form: 101864

Dino Velvet³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: A King| OR: 134| CD

14/1

Justified favouritism over C&D at this fixture last year and comes here after two good wins at lower level. Raised 5lb since last success but confidence must be high now and represents top jockey-trainer combination.

Form: 485511

Pearl Of The West^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 134| D

10/1

Beat Redicean at Cheltenham in October and 5lb worse off for just over three lengths. Rested until promising Flat effort recently at Dundalk and classy rider booked here. Looks to have been teed up for this.

Form: 1-12141

Irish Roe²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 134| D

25/1

Did well a couple of seasons ago but hasn't appeared to be the force of old over the last 12 months or so. Easing down the weights but hard to recommend on recent evidence.

Form: 3F2739

Captain Moirette²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 133| D

20/1

Yard won this last year with 25/1 shot and is in good form following wins in lower grade at Catterick and Haydock. 14lb rise looks harsh but shrewd connections still come here so may feel they have a horse who is very much on the upgrade.

Form: 334/411

Get Out The Gate²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 130| D

50/1

Run well most starts this term and only faded last 150 yards at Kelso last time. 3lb rise looks plenty though and will do well to mix it here with better rivals despite low weight.

Form: 6-13264

Non-Runners

Mister Fisher³²

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Verdana Blue (4/1), Mister Fisher (5/1), Nube Negra (13/2), Malaya (7/1), Anemoi (7/1), Leoncavallo (17/2), Pearl Of The West (10/1), Redicean (10/1), Brain Power (11/1), Dino Velvet (14/1), Equus Amadeus (16/1), Captain Moirette (20/1), Irish Roe (25/1), Caius Marcius (25/1), Get Out The Gate (50/1)

The relatively unexposed mare PEARL OF THE WEST could well have been trained all term with this race in mind. She comes here relatively fresh and should be spot on after a good recent effort on the Flat. There are plenty of dangers in a hot race. Malaya could prove the toughest nut to crack and should go close, while Captain Moirette may run well at decent odds. Of the Henderson-trained trio, Mister Fisher may do best, although if Verdana Blue returns to form he should be right in the thick of the action