13:05 Ayr

Thursday 8 October 2020

All12:3013:0513:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Winter Breaks At Western House Hotel Handicap

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 2m 19.37s

(7)

Howzer Black⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74| D

8/1

Latest win at Haydock (10f) in June. Creditable third of 9 in handicap (16/1) at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Consistency not his strong suit but possibilities with a repeat of latest effort.

Form: 148053

(8)

Breguet Boy¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 77

11/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, soft, 4/1) 17 days ago, responding well. Consistent sort who is fancied to go well again back up in trip.

Form: 332541

(2)

Granite City Doc^p1⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A Mullen| T: R M Smith| OR: 73| D

11/2

Latest win at Hamilton in August. Good second of 9 in handicap (10/1) at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Not taken lightly.

Form: 613362

(4)

Al Khabeer¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: B A Curtis| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75

8/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, third of 5 in minor event at Beverley (9.9f, good, 7/2) 16 days ago, having run of race. Should give it his best shot again.

Form: 432463

(3)

Firewater^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| C| D

9/2

Course winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2019. Seventh of 9 in handicap at Ripon (12f, soft, 12/1) 12 days ago. Ease back down in grade can only aid his cause.

Form: 242277

(1)

Ralphy Boy Two²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rowan Scott| T: A C Whillans| OR: 69

22/1

9/2, last of 11 in handicap at this course (8f, good to soft) 20 days ago, running too bad to be true. Had previously been shaping up well and no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 473250

(6)

Royal Regent⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 64| CD

14/1

4-time course winner. 12/1, first run since leaving Lucy Normile when ninth of 12 in handicap at this course (1m) in July, needing more of a test. This more suitable.

Form: 5633-09

(5)

Camile^p,t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| C

13/2

Respectable third of 8 in handicap (7/2) at Redcar (10f, heavy) 5 days ago, off the bridle before most but noted staying on. Fancied to go well again.

Form: 42/81-33

(9)

Ayr Poet¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 60| BF| C

9/2

Course winner. 3 wins from 8 runs this year. 2/1, respectable fourth of 13 in handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, good) 10 days ago, not ideally placed. Up in trip. Shortlist material.

Form: 211614

Forecasts

Firewater (9/2), Ayr Poet (9/2), Breguet Boy (11/2), Granite City Doc (11/2), Camile (13/2), Howzer Black (8/1), Al Khabeer (8/1), Royal Regent (14/1), Ralphy Boy Two (22/1)

A competitive affair with the vote in favour of AYR POET. Jim Goldie's charge has been steadily progressive at a low level this season, shaping as if still in top form when fourth at Hamilton 10 days ago. The return to further rates a plus and a big run can be expected. Breguet Boy and Royal Regent head up the dangers, whilst Ralphy Boy Two is also expected to bounce back.