15:50 Ayr

Friday 16 April 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:27

Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 3m 58.90s

Theatre Legend²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 132| CD

8/1

Useful sort who was back to form with a bang when taking full advantage of an uncontested lead at Newcastle (2m) last month. Up 4 lb in a deeper race now so more needed if he's to follow up.

Form: 22-2F51

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Torigni⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 132

4/1

Winner in France who has shown useful form when placed in a trio of 2m handicaps since coming over to Britain. Ought to be in the shake-up again but needs a bit more for the win.

Form: 01-333

Dino Velvet^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 123| CD

5/1

Plenty of respectable efforts this season without ever really threatening to get his head in front. Being eased a further 2 lb can only help though.

Form: 477344

Defining Battle^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| BF

9/4

Fairly useful and progressive on Flat in 2019. In frame in pair of 2m hurdles since returning from absence for new yard, coming clear with Camprond (who ran well at Aintree) at Taunton latterly.

Form: 42

Orkan⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 122| D

8/1

Raised his game with 2m wins at Wetherby and Warwick this winter. Not up to the very competitive Morebattle at Kelso last time but this is a touch less competitive.

Form: 1-42119

Dubai Days^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 120| D

10/1

Improved further to win his second handicap of the season at Wetherby in February in great style, quickening clear from last. Only sixth of 15 off his revised mark at Musselburgh since, though.

Form: 371716

Fete Champetre^h,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: R Dobbin| OR: 117| D

9/1

Winner on Kelso bumper debut in November and progressive over hurdles since, winning 2m Wetherby maiden 15 days ago. Opening handicap mark looks workable.

Form: 1631

Iolani^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 117| D

20/1

Better than ever when landing a nice prize at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago but that race fell apart to some degree and he'll need another career best to overcome a 9 lb rise.

Form: 203901

Non-Runners

Homme Public³¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Defining Battle (9/4), Torigni (4/1), Dino Velvet (5/1), Homme Public (13/2), Orkan (8/1), Theatre Legend (8/1), Fete Champetre (9/1), Dubai Days (10/1), Iolani (20/1)

FETE CHAMPETRE has improved with each start over hurdles and an opening mark of 117 looks very workable given he beat a horse rated 120 when scoring at Wetherby recently. Defining Battle chased home last week's Aintree runner-up Camprond at Taunton last time and should have more to come in handicaps so he looks the chief threat ahead of Torigni.