14:30 Ayr

Wednesday 22 May 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:40

Heverlee Handicap

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 1m 12.94s

(14)

Ninjago^v²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: P T Midgley| OR: 60| D

6/1

Not easy to win with nowadays, his last three successes coming in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Needs to improve on recent form and down the field at Thirsk (7f, good to firm; 25-1) 23 days ago. Drop in trip may help.

Form: 048-580

(6)

Red Cymbal^t,v1²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A McCann| OR: 57| D

12/1

Moderate form in three AW starts for this trainer, but combination of first-time visor and seemingly generous rating back on turf enough to ensure he's not completely overlooked. Watch betting.

Form: 0-80666

(12)

Jessie Allan³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Corey Madden⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 55| CD

20/1

Always shown her best form on turf (won three time over 6f in 2018). Hasn't truly progressed this season, well beaten in handicap at Thirsk (6f, good) last month. Now dipped below previous win-mark.

Form: 688-030

(8)

Havana Go^b1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 55

9/1

Has seen less action than most of these, mostly at around 7f/1m. Has slipped to what ought to be a workable mark, though failed to beat a rival home over 5f at Hamilton last time. Blinkers tried here.

Form: 4009-80

(2)

Raffle King³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 54

25/1

Remains a maiden after 22 Flat runs, though recent reappearance over 5f on the AW at Wolverhampton was encouraging. Trainer runs a handful in this contest, betting check can reveal plenty more.

Form: 56800-4

(15)

Mr Shelby^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: S Donohoe| OR: 54| CD

9/2

Doesn't do a lot of winning, though his one success from 29 came over C&D a year ago, rated 9lb lower at the time. Has twice run well over 5f at Musselburgh lately from this mark and extra furlong ought to suit now.

Form: 886033

(17)

Cupid's Arrow²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 53| D

12/1

6f winner on soft-ground at Redcar in October, his second win in 13 starts on turf. Ran well on AW reappearance recently and entitled to be considered with that run behind him.

Form: 92160-4

(13)

Tadaany^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 53| C| D

14/1

Course winner over a mile back in 2016, also scored last September over 6f on soft-ground at Hamilton from a 5lb lower mark. May have needed reappearance on AW at Newcastle last month and should be competitive now.

Form: 46531-0

(3)

Tai Sing Yeh⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Donagh O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 52

7/1

Sole win for Charlie Hills was in 2016. Low-mileage for this trainer and shaped with plenty promise on second start over 6f at Dundalk; should have a say in this.

Form: 56845-6

(10)

Loulin¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 52

12/1

Twice-placed 11-race maiden has some pieces of form that would give him good place claims at least. One of five for the trainer and the mount of Paul Hanagan, noted.

Form: 438-493

(7)

Star Cracker^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 49| C| D

25/1

Course winner over 5f in each of the last two years, though 0-10 here since scoring last August. Won over minimum trip on the AW at Newcastle 23 days ago, making all in a weak affair.

Form: 252391

(1)

Brendan²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 49

12/1

Strapping gelding who has his issues with the starting stalls (twice withdrawn last year); 2¼L fourth of 10 to Star Cracker in handicap at Newcastle (5f) 23 days ago, making up good late ground. Chance if he behaves.

Form: 72105-4

(11)

Racquet^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Evans| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 49| CD

25/1

Thirsk winner over this trip on good to soft last summer (rated 3lb higher). Nothing out of the ordinary in three recent AW starts but fitness building and could offer more back on turf / returned to 6f. One of five for trainer.

Form: 700-775

(4)

Joey Boy^p1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 57

33/1

Ran well when runner-up in first time blinkers over 5f at Newcastle in February, not quite as good next time and poor on turf at Redcar (6f, good to firm) last month. Needs new cheekpieces to provoke a reaction, seemingly.

Form: 77-8250

(9)

Thorntoun Lady⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 48| D

20/1

Just one win since July 2015, and she's not one to rely on with losing sequence now stretched to 15. Modest record at this venue.

Form: 584760

(16)

Firsteen²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: A C Whillans| OR: 54

14/1

Form in handicaps on the AW not devoid of promise, though only tenth of 14 in handicap at Redcar (1m, good; 12-1) 20 days ago and remains a frustrating sort to be getting involved with.

Form: 7-63320

Non-Runners

(5)

The Bull²⁹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: B Haslam J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Mr Shelby (9/2), Ninjago (6/1), Tai Sing Yeh (7/1), Havana Go (9/1), Cupid's Arrow (12/1), Brendan (12/1), Red Cymbal (12/1), Loulin (12/1), The Bull (12/1), Firsteen (14/1), Tadaany (14/1), Jessie Allan (20/1), Thorntoun Lady (20/1), Star Cracker (25/1), Raffle King (25/1), Racquet (25/1), Joey Boy (33/1)

Just about as wide-open as a low-grade 17-runner sprint here ought to be. Mr Shelby gained his only victory so far at this track and is in good form while Tai Sing Yeh showed enough on the AW at Dundalk on second start for these connections to warrant a close look. Red Cymbal and Tadaany are a pair that could be involved, with market moves to be noted, but perhaps RAFFLE KING might be the one for mob-handed trainer Ruth Carr. He shaped with some promise on the AW in his comeback and wouldn't be out of place landing a race from his lowly-rating based on his best form. His stablemates Loulin and Racquet also have their merits.