13:50 Ayr

Sunday 18 April 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 14.2s

Hurricane Harvey^p1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| D

28/1

Progressive over hurdles last season and made it 2 wins from first 3 starts over fences in 3m, Doncaster Grade 2 in December. Pulled up in Reynoldstown at Ascot in February but not one to write off.

Form: 13-121P

Marown²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 140| C| D

5/1

Low-mileage, progressive 7-y-o who has made a solid start over fences this season, albeit rather fortunate to come out on top at Wetherby last time. Still, he's respected back in a handicap.

Form: 1-31221

The Butcher Said^t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| D

12/1

Useful hurdler who quickly reached similar level over fences, winning pair of 3m novices at end of summer. Has failed to convince recently though, well held on back of a wind op at Kempton latest.

Form: 213669

Five Star Getaway¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 135

6/1

Ex-pointer who is proving upwardly mobile over fences, coping with a hike in weights to complete the hat-trick at Haydock (19.8f) 2 weeks ago. 15 lb higher now but likely more to come and lead player.

Form: 06-5111

Mac Tottie^h,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135

16/1

Multiple hurdles winner during summer 2018. Lightly raced thereafter but on the up over fences since the turn of the year, successful at Newbury (23.4f) last time. 8 lb higher as a result, though.

Form: 8P12P1

Innisfree Lad¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Sheppard| OR: 132

22/1

Revitalised this season, adding a fifth success to his tally over fences at Haydock (25.5f) at the start of the month. Career-high mark to defy now, however.

Form: 316231

Admiral Barratry^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: L Wadham| OR: 130

20/1

Improved over fences this season, winning at Fakenham (21.2f) prior to a solid second at that venue. Something not right at Sandown (20f) in March and on balance, he's not one to give up on.

Form: 60/512P

Dead Right^t1³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130WS

16/1

Quickly back on track when scoring on return at Market Rasen (21.4f) in September. Never a threat having been left poorly placed in Paddy Power Plate at Cheltenham latest. Had wind op since.

Form: 22PP-10

Flegmatik²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

7/1

Fairly useful 2m hurdler who scored on chase debut in October and back to that sort of form when keeping on third at Uttoxeter (3m) in March. That effort marks him down as one to be interested in.

Form: 3-15P44

One More Fleurie⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

11/1

Improved for the switch to chasing in recent months, making it 3 wins from last 4 starts (set to go close when falling other start) at Warwick (3m) 7 days ago. Respected in this groove.

Form: 5611F1

Sirwilliamwallace⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 126| C

14/1

Winning hurdler who has got better with each start over fences, jumping boldly to run out a 10-length winner over 20.5f here 7 weeks ago. That ought not prove his limit.

Form: 16-5331

Pilbara¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Alain Cawley| T: E Mullins| OR: 125| BF| D

6/1

Gambled on when landing back-to-back 3m handicap hurdles last summer. Largely consistent in defeat thereafter and likely 18f trip was against him at Galway in October. Very intriguing contender.

Form: 112529

Dublin Four^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 125

6/1

Hurdles winner who surpassed pick of form in that sphere when running out a 6-length winner of a handicap chase at Newbury (22.4f) recently. More on plate now but unexposed at around 3m.

Form: 1-2P331

Non-Runners

Informateur²⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Marown (5/1), Dublin Four (6/1), Five Star Getaway (6/1), Pilbara (6/1), Flegmatik (7/1), One More Fleurie (11/1), The Butcher Said (12/1), Informateur (12/1), Sirwilliamwallace (14/1), Mac Tottie (16/1), Dead Right (16/1), Admiral Barratry (20/1), Innisfree Lad (22/1), Hurricane Harvey (28/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap featuring a host of last-time-out winners including FIVE STAR GETAWAY. Christian Williams' charge is rising up the handicap fast, defying a 15 lb rise in the weights to complete the hat-trick recently. The handicapper has reacted but he promises to do better still and can go in again. Irish-raider Pilbara, Flegmatik and Admiral Barratry head up the dangers.