17:30 Ayr

Monday 8 July 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Collect totepool Winnings Apprentice Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 1m 30.98s

(8)

Royal Duchess¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Connor Murtagh| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 59| CD

7/2

An experienced mare who is a C&D winner but does not prevail very often. She has run modestly well on her two starts here this season over this distance. Is now 11lb below her last winning mark so has to be respected. One for shortlist.

Form: 2264-66

(5)

Naples Bay¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Sanderson| T: K Scott| OR: 56| CD

12/1

A C&D winner whose best form has come at Ayr. Was disappointing here last time though when last of 11 over this trip. Now 6lb below last winning mark. Needs to bounce back but is capable.

Form: 275-900

(6)

Wensley²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Phil Dennis| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 55

16/1

Scored over 5f at Pontefract as a two-year-old but has been unable to add to that since then. Has progressively got worse so far this season, with his latest attempt coming at Hamilton (6f) where he was 14th of 15. Needs to improve.

Form: 620-770

(13)

Dark Crystal⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 52| CD

33/1

A C&D winner here in June 2017 but has been out of form since then. She has yet to finish above a horse in two starts this season, with her latest run coming at Musselburgh over 1m. Very difficult to make a case for.

Form: 6080-00

(1)

Burning Lake³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 60| D

10/3

Broke his maiden on the AW at Newcastle (7f) last December and has gone close on the same surface this year on a couple of occasions. Was last of 18 last time at Fairyhouse on return to turf. Needs to bounce back from last start.

Form: 41-2270

(9)

Darwina^h²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: A C Whillans| OR: 58

33/1

Broke her maiden on the AW at Wolverhampton (6f) last October. Changed yards since then but has been unable to follow it up in two attempts. Making her return to action here on turf. May just need the run.

Form: 829146-

(11)

Shamalov^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jane Elliott| T: D Hogan| OR: 57

11/1

Still seeking his first win after eight attempts but latest effort showed promise as he was third of six at Ballinrobe over the longer trip of 1m½f on slower ground. Been given a further drop in weights and back to 7f here. Interesting runner.

Form: 007903

(3)

Gunnison¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Davis| T: R A Fahey| OR: 55

10/1

A maiden after five races and has been unable to hit the frame in his two handicap attempts so far, including latest at Leicester (6f) when sixth of 11. Up in trip today and is still unexposed so one to watch.

Form: 55466

(2)

Cambeleza²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw| T: K A Ryan| OR: 55

5/1

Lightly-raced gelding who is still a maiden after five races. Showed a lot of promise on his opening start of the season at Leicester (7f) when fifth of 14, beaten by 2¼l. Gone down 1lb since that run so has a good opportunity here.

Form: 6650-5

(4)

Thorntoun Lady¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Corey Madden⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 45

14/1

On a long losing stretch which goes back to October 2017 when she last scored on the AW at Wolverhampton (6f). She was much better last time at Hamilton (5f) as she finished 4th of 11. More improvement needed. Others preferred.

Form: 760004

(7)

Let Right Be Done^b,h⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 45| CD

9/1

A C&D winner but that was two years ago. Finished at the back end of the field on opening three stats this season. Was better last time at Hamilton (1m) when fourth of 11. Others make more of an appear here.

Form: 6-80004

(12)

Princess Apollo²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Danny Redmond| T: D W Whillans| OR: 45

66/1

Has been outclassed in all seven of her starts so far, with her latest effort coming at Catterick where she was 10th of 13 over 5f. She is stepping up trip here but it would be a big surprise if she was in the mix.

Form: 0799-00

(10)

Milabella⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Paula Muir| T: R M Smith| OR: 45

40/1

Lighly-raced filly with just five races under her belt so far. Has shown no improvement in her two starts this season, including latest outing when fifth of six at this track over 6f. Very difficult to make a case for.

Form: 996-65

Forecasts

Burning Lake (10/3), Royal Duchess (7/2), Cambeleza (5/1), Let Right Be Done (9/1), Gunnison (10/1), Shamalov (11/1), Naples Bay (12/1), Thorntoun Lady (14/1), Wensley (16/1), Darwina (33/1), Dark Crystal (33/1), Milabella (40/1), Princess Apollo (66/1)

CAMBELEZA was much better on his seasonal reappearance which suggests he is heading in the right direction and this could be a great chance for him to record his first success. He has gone down 1lb since his last run which can only help his chances further. Although she is no younger now, Royal Duchess cannot be ignored off this mark at Ayr, especially after her two latest efforts, while Shamalov may just appreciate his step down in distance to be in the frame.