13:40 Ayr

Monday 26 October 2020

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Winter Breaks At Western House Hotel Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 48.58s

Empire Steel²⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

5/2

Placed in points before impressive winning debut in 25f novice hurdle at Carlisle. Failed to build on that when third at Ayr only run since but yard going well so considered on return sent chasing.

Form: 4/3313-

Frisson Collonges^t²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115WS

7/2

Runner-up in Irish points and improved with each hurdling run under Rules until well held in 3m Ascot handicap last time. Remains with potential though for top yard now going chasing after a wind op.

Form: P2/P420-

Lemon T²⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 113| DWS

10/1

Newcastle 20f novice hurdle winner who was still close up in second when pulled up before last in similar event there in February. Back now chasing after a breathing op so much respected.

Form: 51/21P-

Animore^h⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 112| D

7/1

Free-going sort who bounced back after a break to land 20f handicap hurdle at Bangor 89 days ago, well on top finish. Goes over fences now and another not ruled out.

Form: 541PP-1

Stop Talking⁴¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 112| D

22/1

Fair winning hurdler but not seen out for 13 months. Goes straight over fences on comeback so needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 839353-

Do Not Disturb²²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Dobbin| OR: 112

15/2

Landed 2m maiden hurdle at Kelso but well below that level all three runs after. Has gone well fresh though so no forlorn hope on his reappearance pitched straight over fences.

Form: 37/14P4-

Eeyore²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

22/1

Very-lightly raced ex-French hurdler. Better effort for new yard when fifth of 12 in 21f Kelso novice in January. Sent chasing after 9 months off and needs to step forward.

Form: 422/P5-

Savoy Court^p³²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 110| DWS

80/1

Fairly useful 21f hurdle winner for Warren Greatrex in 2018. Reported breathing problem when pulled up in handicap chase at Wetherby when last seen out 10 months ago and back after wind op now.

Form: 1P34U/P-

Holy Motivation^p⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 109| D

14/1

Fair 3m winner over hurdles but she offered little in 21f novice chases at Kilbeggan and Tramore in July. Irish raider is in excellent hands but she needs to show lot more here if she's to figure.

Form: 1850-09

Beat Box^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 115

11/2

Fair 2m hurdles winner who made encouraging chasing bow when third of 7 in handicap at Hexham (15.6f, good to soft, 6/1) 24 days ago. Cheekpieces back on now and bold showing on the cards up in trip.

Form: 8413-3

King Of Fashion^t²³⁶

18/1

Dual winner over hurdles back in 2017 but lightly raced subsequently and ended last season under a cloud for a new yard. Sent over fences on his return and needs to show more on the back of a wind op.

Form: 660/409-

Non-Runners

Gipsy Lee Rose²⁷²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: N W Alexander J: Lucy Alexander

Forecasts

Empire Steel (5/2), Frisson Collonges (7/2), Beat Box (11/2), Animore (7/1), Do Not Disturb (15/2), Lemon T (10/1), Holy Motivation (14/1), King Of Fashion (18/1), Stop Talking (22/1), Eeyore (22/1), Gipsy Lee Rose (50/1), Savoy Court (80/1)

BEAT BOX shaped well when third at Hexham on his recent chasing bow and is taken to put that experience to excellent effect here with victory. Lots of these have their first go chasing and among them Empire Steel, from the in-form Sandy Thomson yard, and Dan Skelton's Frisson Collonges make most appeal in an intriguing novice handicap.