17:05 Ayr

Wednesday 22 May 2019

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

Tsingtao Apprentice Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 1m 41.12s

(7)

Testa Rossa^b²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Corey Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65| CD

5/1

Regular on the AW at Newcastle this winter, though no win there since September. Knows this place well and has 3 wins in 29 starts at the track, nothing since 2017 however. Needs things to fall just right.

Form: 459356

(2)

Lucky Violet^h¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 64| CD

16/1

C&D winner in July last year off a mark of 9lb lower than this one, also won twice at Musselburgh last summer, including off 64. Has had a couple of recent spins on the AW to boost fitness.

Form: 1174-76

(6)

War Advocate¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: M L Melia⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 62

9/2

Declaration Of War colt, cost 30,000 gns as a yearling. Modest form shown so far in Ireland and will need to take a step forward to make this raid a successful one.

Form: 48-73

(11)

Rebel State^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Owen Payton⁽⁷⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 57| CD

5/1

Six-year-old with modest 2-40 strike-rate, though sole turf success came over C&D 12 months ago. Rated only 3lb higher now, though hasn't threatened in couple of recent outings.

Form: 2875-74

(8)

Pudding Chare^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Toby Eley| T: R M Smith| OR: 54| C

10/1

Sole win came at this track (1m1f, good to firm) last year, when 6lb higher. Form has been in decline since then so hard to get excited about his chance, though did shape with more promise last time at Hamilton (only beat 2¼L).

Form: 89090-5

(13)

Jackhammer^b,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Ella McCain⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 51

5/1

Just the one Flat win to his name that coming on his debut over 7f, soft back in 2016 with plenty of defeats in handicaps since then at various trips. Chance based on ¾L defeat at Musselburgh (1m1f, good to firm; 20-1) early this month.

Form: 06624-3

(1)

Thecornishbarron²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Kieran Schofield| T: B Ellison| OR: 48

5/1

1-42 career record tells its own story, twice went close on the AW at Southwell after wind surgery early this year; though tossed in the towel very quickly over 1m4f there latest. Not the most reliable.

Form: 55-2228

(14)

Captain Peaky²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁵⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 46

11/1

A 25-race maiden but ran surprisingly well on debut for current yard when 33-1 second at Chelmsford in March off this mark. Since run fair race at Wolverhampton, now attempts to find some positives back on turf.

Form: 9740-27

(5)

Morley Gunner^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Sara Del Fabbro⁽⁵⁾| T: S Donohoe| OR: 45

33/1

€12,000 Elzaam half-brother to winners in Italy and Slovakia, has merely hinted at ability in his short career to date. Well held 50-1 poke at Musselburgh over 7f in this grade last week sporting first-time cheekpieces (retained).

Form: 7800-7

(9)

Let Right Be Done^h,v²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Robert Dodsworth| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 45| C

66/1

Experienced Lawman gelding, course winner over 7f in 2017, also got head in front at Musselburgh in October that year (both from this sort of low mark). Rarely threatened last year and reappearance not an encouraging one.

Form: 0466-80

(4)

Quiet Moment^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 45| CD

50/1

A heavy ground 1m Ayr winner for Keith Dalgleish in late 2017; woeful on all four starts in 2019 (two of those were over hurdles); latest over 7f at Musselburgh this month (66-1). Hard to make any case for.

Form: 5709-07

(3)

Foxy Rebel²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Gavin Ashton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 45| D

33/1

Picked up a Class 6 Nottingham handicap last summer over an extended-mile, his only win from 15 attempts so far. Form rapidly tailed off afterwards, no obvious reason for turnaround back from 240-day layoff.

Form: 300090-

(12)

Circuit¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Rhona Pindar⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 45

50/1

Mare is an eight-race maiden, with few positives along the way. Sent off 100-1 and beaten close to 15L in a seller at Thirsk (6f, good to soft) 11 days ago, she's up against it back up in trip.

Form: 5009/09

(10)

Elzaa^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Izzy Clifton⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 45

25/1

22-race maiden in Ireland on the Flat/over jumps, though has at times shown glimpses of ability that would allow her entertain the notion of winning a race like this; although not strictly since joining this trainer. Watch betting.

Form: 93/6000

Forecasts

War Advocate (9/2), Jackhammer (5/1), Rebel State (5/1), Testa Rossa (5/1), Thecornishbarron (5/1), Pudding Chare (10/1), Captain Peaky (11/1), Lucky Violet (16/1), Elzaa (25/1), Foxy Rebel (33/1), Morley Gunner (33/1), Circuit (50/1), Quiet Moment (50/1), Let Right Be Done (66/1)

Not a field to get excited about, though a few do have course form. PUDDING CHARE is one such conveyance, having won here last year from 6lb higher. He shaped nicely from a pound out of the handicap on his reappearance at Hamilton and with rider Toby Eley 3-12 lately, should have a confident partner in a weak race. Jackhammer also comes here off the back of a decent run while Lucky Violet and Rebel State can also hold claims. Any money coming for Irish raider Elzaa would catch the eye, despite her maiden status.