16:00 Ayr

Sunday 19 January 2020

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

Cheltenham Preview Dinner At Western House Hotel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 6m 43.8s

Sporty Yankee^b,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 96| C

9/2

Has had various trainers over the years, inc Karl Burke & Martin Keighley (lowly-rated after a brief stint for Aytach Sadik); runner-up on his last two starts for Gordon Elliott, including when no match for Epsom Des Mottes here (2m5½f) latest; 3m?

Form: P00822

Chasing Charlie¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 96

50/1

Hasn't shown any obvious ability over hurdles (0-4); finished 13th of 16 on handicap debut at Clonmel (2m4f, heavy) ten days ago; on pedigree it's virtually impossible to argue a case for him staying this 3m trip; look elsewhere.

Form: PP6090

Emma Beag¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 92| BF| CD

5/1

Beat Airdrigh by 5L when an unchallenged winner of this race 12 months ago (now rated 8lb higher); has made the frame in each of her last two starts, including when a close third (beaten 1L) to Mamoo at Catterick (3m1½f) on New Year's Day; player.

Form: 1P-6723

Bobby Boucher^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 89

100/1

13-race maiden; was making his debut for Maurice Barnes (off an 11-month absence) when starting at odds of 66-1 at Musselburgh (1m7½f, good to soft) recently; now 5lb lower with grave stamina doubts (untested) at 3m.

Form: 860F/7-8

Wind Of Hope^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 88| D

13/2

Doesn't win all that often (1-20 under rules) but can generally be relied upon to produce a consistent level of form; 2lb higher than when finishing 1½L second to Pray For A Rainbow at Wetherby (3m, soft) during the festive period; a possible.

Form: 5-54442

Easy Cash D'Alex^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: R McNally| OR: 87

50/1

11-race maiden; jumped poorly throughout when tailed-off and pulled-up over an extended 2m4f here (soft) early in the New Year; the application of cheekpieces can't be viewed as a positive sign; look elsewhere.

Form: 0P-99PP

Letemgo¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 84| CD

9/1

Continues on a long losing run since landing the hat-trick in early 2018 (Kelso, Ayr and Carlisle); is easing sharply in the weights but at the age of 12 one must question whether or not his passion for the racing game still burns within.

Form: 355476

Aniknam¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 81

6/4

Useful novice (back in 2014/15); patiently handled by Phil Kirby in recent years and that approach was duly rewarded when gamely landing some sizeable bets at Uttoxeter (2m7½f, heavy) on New Year's Eve; much respected from a 3lb higher mark.

Form: P7/0P21

Mcginty's Dream^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 79| CD

8/1

Comfortable 6L winner over fences here (3m, soft) in February 2019; clobbered by the handicapper thereafter and that unsurprisingly thwarted his momentum; relishes testing conditions; holds an outside squeak of a place from an easing handicap mark.

Form: 11F-845

Forecasts

Aniknam (6/4), Sporty Yankee (9/2), Emma Beag (5/1), Wind Of Hope (13/2), Mcginty's Dream (8/1), Letemgo (9/1), Easy Cash D'Alex (50/1), Chasing Charlie (50/1), Bobby Boucher (100/1)

The winner of this concluding 3m handicap hurdle will almost certainly come from the quartet of Sporty Yankee, Wind Of Hope, Emma Beag and ANIKNAM. Gordon Elliott's charge must prove his stamina over this trip, while last year's winner Emma Beag comes into the race in-form, admittedly from an 8lb higher mark than 12 months ago. Therefore, the selection is Phil Kirby's one-time useful novice who reportedly landed some sizeable bets when scoring in a very game manner at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. Assuming that the exertions of that race haven't taken their toll, he should go close from a token 3lb higher mark.