16:45 Ayr

Monday 22 July 2019

All13:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:15

Flower Show At Ayr Racecourse In August Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 11.86s

(4)

Nicholas T⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85| C

9/4

Victorious over 1m here by a neck on good-to-firm ground earlier this month. Ran on into a never nearer second here over the same trip latest suggesting a return to this trip may be worthwhile. Leading claims.

Form: 046212

(6)

Shrewd³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR: 82

33/1

Last two Flat wins were over 1m6f and he was third in the 2017 Cesarewitch trial. Distance looked inadequate in recent C&D fifth so best watched until back up in trip.

Form: 330/805

(1)

Glasses Up¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 81| CD

7/1

All three wins come over C&D and is just 2lb higher than most recent of them after two fair if unspectacular 2019 races at the course. Expect best race of the season here and could easily make the frame now.

Form: 2856-35

(3)

Asian Angel³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Vincent C Y Ho| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| CD

5/2

Lightly raced three-year-old won his only previous C&D race by 5L back in June. Fair efforts since suggest this 11lb higher mark tough but the sort to progress again for top yard and very much respected back here.

Form: 35-2134

(5)

Employer¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J S Goldie| OR: 77

14/1

Still won just a Windsor novice last May and although he has bits and pieces of good form this season his overall inconsistency and strike-rate is reason enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 463007

(7)

Windsor Cross²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74| D

8/1

1lb below the mark from which he won over this trip at Ripon last year but that due to being short of his best on the whole in 2019. That said he wouldn't have to improve much to be competitive here.

Form: 7-47634

(2)

Royal Regent³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 70| CD

10/1

Four-time course winner (twice C&D) but not match for Asian Angel here when last seen in June. 18lb better off with that rival now so ought to fare a whole lot better and has each-way potential.

Form: 106-456

(9)

Mapped¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 68

12/1

0-11 so far on turf. Has been down the field on his six starts this year. Had just one rival behind him in each of his last two and is hard to recommend.

Form: 907650

(8)

Can Can Sixty Two⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 59| D

40/1

Some promise about her last couple at Hamilton although rather flattered to deceive in the end and from 7lb out of the handicap here her task gets much tougher.

Form: 13-5866

Forecasts

Nicholas T (9/4), Asian Angel (5/2), Glasses Up (7/1), Windsor Cross (8/1), Royal Regent (10/1), Mapped (12/1), Employer (14/1), Shrewd (33/1), Can Can Sixty Two (40/1)

The lone three-year-old in the contest ASIAN ANGEL absolutely hacked up on his only previous visit here and after two runs to acclimatise to his now much higher handicap mark he is taken to strike again for the prolific Johnston team. Nicholas T is in a rich vein of form and most feared of the rivals although he is 0-14 beyond 1m. Third time out in 2019 might be the time to catch Glasses Up who is well treated on previous C&D efforts.