15:05 Ayr

Wednesday 22 May 2019

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

Orchard Pig Handicap

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 1m 39.19s

(3)

Universal Gleam⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| C| D

11/10

Much improved seemingly for wind surgery / gelding operation when winning six-runner handicap at Hamilton (1m½f , good to firm; 7/2) five days ago, making every yard of the running. Player again under the penalty.

Form: 41236-1

(5)

Outside Inside⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77

15/2

Holy Roman Emperor filly was a maiden winner in Ireland over 7f as a juvenile. Promising reappearance on Newcastle's AW in March, coming home well to be 1L second over 7f and should have more to come upped in journey back on turf.

Form: 27/654-5

(1)

Trevithick²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 75| D

9/2

Thriving on the AW at Newcastle over the winter, scoring over a mile there in January and going well three runs since. Has more to find back on this surface, however.

Form: 28-1223

(2)

Najashee²²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 74| BF| D

5/1

Invincible Spirit colt, cost €700,000 as a yearling but has proved rather unreliable and was sold from Owen Burrows yard for 20,000 gns in October. First start for new handler, who has team in good order right now. Market check.

Form: 17/8403-

(4)

Strong Steps¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 69| BF| CD

13/2

Just 1-35 on turf, though that score did come over C&D. Long losing sequence goes back to 2017, though has been competitive in two runs at Redcar and Hamilton (1m½f, good to firm; 13-8f) recently. This is stronger on paper.

Form: 0059-64

(6)

Orobas^v⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Victor Santos⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 62

40/1

Made all when scoring by 1¾L at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) in March, likely got away with one there under top amateur, easily beaten next time at Chelmsford and has it all to prove back on turf from this mark. Others preferred.

Form: 3-20017

Non-Runners

(7)

Mount Ararat²¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Universal Gleam (11/10), Trevithick (9/2), Najashee (5/1), Strong Steps (13/2), Mount Ararat (7/1), Outside Inside (15/2), Orobas (40/1)

After a winning return at Hamilton on Friday there appears a decent chance that UNIVERSAL GLEAM will follow up here for a trainer and jockey in sparkling form right now. That was his first start after a wind op/as a gelding and the penalty he incurred might not halt him, with a good chance there is more to come anyhow. The filly Outside Inside could be his main danger, though Mount Ararat and previous C&D winner Strong Steps aren't completely crossed off and it will be interesting to see if there's any confidence behind Najashee on first outing for these connections.