15:10 Ayr

Saturday 22 June 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2517:0517:40

Bob Valentine 80th Birthday Celebration Handicap

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 1m 28.38s

(6)

Daafr¹⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 88

50/1

Formerly with John Gosden; has run some fair races but being gelded and having a wind operation failed to improve him; Slight chance on best of his form but hard to make a case for him.

Form: 15253-8

(3)

Fastman³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

2/1

Seemingly progressive with his best effort coming last time out at York following decent efforts at Doncaster and Wetherby. Handles any ground and suited by this trip. Very much one to consider and likely favourite.

Form: 214-843

(1)

Celebrity Dancer²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 87| C

11/1

Course winner as a two-year-old. Starting to look well weighted and happy on any ground. Likes to race prominently; two reasonable efforts this season and one to consider.

Form: 3140-35

(8)

Shanghai Grace⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: C Hills| OR: 85| BF| D

10/1

Notched up a quick fire hat-trick on the AW in March; has been given a few months break but will come here in good heart. Still to prove himself on turf but has chances.

Form: 23111D

(2)

Woodside Wonder^p⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 83| D

18/1

Disappointed on his seasonal reappearance at Chester in May from a good draw having previous been running well on the AW winning at Kempton and Lingfield in handicaps. More to prove back on turf but capable.

Form: 4113-38

(10)

Howzer Black^p³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 81| D

9/1

Rewarded for his consistency when winning a minor handicap at Carlisle last time out. More to do here at the weights but may be progressive enough to win again especially if ground continues to dry out.

Form: 9-23631

(4)

Irreverent²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

11/2

Failed to build on his maiden win at Wetherby last time out at Doncaster when well held on his handicap debut albeit with some excuses (pulled hard in small field contest). Not to be written off from powerful stable but others preferred.

Form: 420-15

(9)

Regular^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: C O'Donoghue| T: M L W Bell| OR: 78| D

9/1

Finally got off the mark following creditable runs in defeat when scoring in a Leicester maiden last month. Nice run last time out at Newmarket and one to consider from in-form stable.

Form: 53-2219

(7)

Theatre Of War⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 78| D

5/1

Best effort last season arguably came over this course and distance on soft ground in September. Put a below par seasonal reappearance run behind him when scoring at Catterick earlier this week.. Might not want the ground too quick.

Form: 1222-84

(5)

Obee Jo¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75

9/1

Lightly-raced and generally consistent. Better efforts in defeat at Nottingham and Pontefract than when winning a maiden at Thirsk in April. Shapes as though this step up in trip will suit and any market moves would be interesting.

Form: 5126

Forecasts

Fastman (2/1), Theatre Of War (5/1), Irreverent (11/2), Howzer Black (9/1), Obee Jo (9/1), Regular (9/1), Shanghai Grace (10/1), Celebrity Dancer (11/1), Woodside Wonder (18/1), Daafr (50/1)

FASTMAN is taken to show he is a progressive colt and can be rewarded for three fine efforts in defeat this season. Regular is another who looks on the upgrade and the type who will be winning handicaps soon. Obee Jo is interesting stepping up in trip and could improve on recent efforts. Howzer Black is another improving type would could figure in the shake up.