12:40 Ayr

Sunday 19 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Watch Racing TV With Free Trial Now 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 5m 36.7s

Babysean¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: Caroline Mccaldin

33/1

Produced from off the pace to win a 6yo+ 3m maiden at Castletown-Geoghegan (soft) in October; makes his rules/hurdles debut for a trainer who is 0-4 with her previous runners at Ayr; consult the market.

Form: 1

Bluefortytwo^h¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 112

7/1

Cost James Ewart the tidy sum of £55,000 in February 2018; made a low-key seasonal reappearance at Newcastle (2m Class 4 handicap) a fortnight ago; finished runner-up in a 2m4½f novices' hurdle here (soft) in March 2019.

Form: 24/627-8

Dreal Deal^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Alain Cawley| T: R McNally| OR: 87

40/1

Has shown precious little under rules (2m-2m5f) since joining Ronan McNally for £20,000 in May 2019; is very difficult to fancy in newly applied cheekpieces unless an avalanche of market support arrives.

Form: 3-20000

Fairlee Clever⁶³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

100/1

Half-brother to the 2m-2m1f chaser Miss Mackie; pulled-up in a point-to-point at Hexham (3m, heavy) in April 2018; absent since; first start/hurdles debut for Stuart Coltherd.

Form: P/

Grumpy Boots²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans

100/1

Bought out of the Irish point-to-point scene for £16,000; 33-1 when a tailed-off eighth of nine on hurdles/stable debut at Kelso (2m6½f, soft) three weeks ago.

Form: 38

Mayo Star⁸³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 125

7/2

Newcastle bumper winner for the late M.Jefferson; made a most promising start over hurdles - his neck second to Coole Hall at Kelso (2m5f, good) in Oct 2017 is very strong form; absent since (833 days); making his belated debut for N.Richards.

Form: 652132/

The Ferry Master⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

9/4

Winning pointer (joined Sandy Thomson for £10,000 in May 2019); made the frame on rules/stable debut at Hexham (2m4f, soft) in October when a pleasing third to Darry Desbois; one for the shortlist despite a 99-day absence.

Form: 43/413-3

Zambezi Fix²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| BF

13/8

Half-brother to the useful hurdler Fixe Le Kap (2m-2m3f); reasonably proficient in a couple of similar contests in Ireland (Punchestown and Limerick) in recent weeks; ought to make his presence felt with Richard Johnson doing the steering.

Form: 0U44

Forecasts

Zambezi Fix (13/8), The Ferry Master (9/4), Mayo Star (7/2), Bluefortytwo (7/1), Babysean (33/1), Dreal Deal (40/1), Grumpy Boots (100/1), Fairlee Clever (100/1)

Both Zambezi Fix and The Ferry Master have shown respectable form over hurdles this season, with the former thought very much capable of striking for the ever feared Gordon Elliott and Richard Johnson partnership. However, on debut for Nicky Richards it's probably worth taking a calculated gamble on the match fitness of MAYO STAR. Off the track since October 2017 (833 days) he previously possessed a fair degree of ability (as his bumper and hurdles form testifies). On the comeback trail he has to start off somewhere, and with the ground described as heavy this is as good a place as anywhere.