16:15 Ayr

Saturday 7 March 2020

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 6m 58.0s

Emma Beag⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 97| CD

11/4

Mare certainly likes it here, with two of three career wins coming at Ayr (also 2-3 here); latest when as good as ever over C&D (heavy) in January from 5lb lower. Capable again from this mark and key player.

Form: P-67231

Tuatha De Dannan¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Cameron Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 96

50/1

Failed to sparkle with Joseph O'Brien and pulled up after going off 100-1 here over 2m4½f (heavy) in November's stable bow in a maiden hurdle. Lots to ponder at the moment.

Form: 68FP

Border Victor^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 96| D

7/1

Trip and ground no worry and bounced back to something like best form when narrowly denied at Catterick last time over similar trip (front pair clear) on first outing after wind op. Has gone up 4lb in defeat which is unfortunate but not prohibitive.

Form: 9-83P62

Top Billing^p³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 94| CD

10/1

Not won since December 2018 Carlisle success (similar trip/ground to this) and was well held over C&D in January. That said, improving with each of three runs this term and stable have had five wins and a second from just six runners this week.

Form: 050-P54

Aero Majestic^p³⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 94| D

7/4

Maiden under rules but has won a couple of times in point-to-points; first start for Gordon Elliott and booking of Richard Johnson will certainly ensure the eye is drawn to him when betting opens.

Form: RP81-21

Wind Of Hope^p¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 87| D

8/1

Runner-up over C&D behind Emma Beag in January amongst some consistent efforts this winter; not as good since at Carlisle however and strike-rate of 2-22 under rules is off-putting.

Form: 444226

Jamboulet^t1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 81WS

15/2

Early days but hasn't shown anything in three runs in novice/maiden company since mid-December to suggest a winning start in handicaps looms; has undergone wind surgery and gets a tongue-tie now.

Form: 094

Letemgo^p⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 74| CD

16/1

Seven wins from 48 attempts over timber, including over C&D, though not successful in two years. Has 42L to find on Emma Beag from January meeting and easily held over hurdles/fences since.

Form: 766406

Forecasts

Aero Majestic (7/4), Emma Beag (11/4), Border Victor (7/1), Jamboulet (15/2), Wind Of Hope (8/1), Top Billing (10/1), Letemgo (16/1), Tuatha De Dannan (50/1)

EMMA BEAG does her best work around here and isn't harshly treated having gone up 5lb for her January C&D success, she should be right in the mix again and rates as the most obvious choice. The one to monitor in the betting is surely Aero Majestic, who has joined Gordon Elliott since winning a point-to-point last year and may leave previous rules form firmly behind. Border Victor went close at Catterick after a wind op and should give a good account while Top Billing is improving with racing this term and represents a trainer in great form.