17:30 Ayr

Wednesday 19 May 2021

All14:1014:4515:2015:5016:2016:5517:30

Wine Dine And Stay At westernhousehotel.co.uk Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:34 | Winning time: 1m 39.35s

(8)

Ayr Poet⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 66| CD

13/8

C&D winner. Latest win at Musselburgh in April. Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap at this course (10f, good, 3/1) 8 days ago, left with too much to do. Likely to be on the premises.

Form: 43-0214

(5)

City Wanderer¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Zak Wheatley| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 65| D

28/1

Eighth of 12 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good, 66/1) 18 days ago. Would be a danger to all off this mark if able to bounce back, but risky all the same. Yard also saddles Don't Joke.

Form: 068-808

(4)

Elixsoft²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Kieran Schofield| T: K Tutty| OR: 64| D

14/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in February. 18/1, creditable sixth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f) 20 days ago. Just 1-21 on turf and looks vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 134806

(6)

Sorbonne²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Charlie O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 63

6/1

6/1, respectable sixth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 25 days ago. That run will have blown away the cobwebs and he's a leading contender.

Form: 42120-6

(1)

Tukhoom^b²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 62| D

10/3

11/1, last of 8 in handicap at Catterick (6f, good) 28 days ago. Significantly back up in trip and blinkers back on. Needs a revival.

Form: 59-3508

(2)

Royal Countess⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Josh Quinn| T: R M Smith| OR: 54| C

6/1

Course winner. 13/2, good third of 13 in handicap at this C&D (good) 8 days ago and another bold show is very much on the cards.

Form: 5/1204-3

(7)

Wilhelm Vonvenster²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Ella McCain| T: N G Richards| OR: 50

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Respectable fifth of 17 in handicap (40/1) at Doncaster (8f, firm) 25 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 9559-5

(3)

Don't Joke¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 46

18/1

Respectable second of 12 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy, 25/1) 11 days ago. Still, he's now 0-14 and needs to find improvement from somewhere.

Form: 0966-02

Forecasts

Ayr Poet (13/8), Tukhoom (10/3), Royal Countess (6/1), Sorbonne (6/1), Wilhelm Vonvenster (11/1), Elixsoft (14/1), Don't Joke (18/1), City Wanderer (28/1)

In the hope that there's a good pace to aim at, ROYAL COUNTESS gets the nod having shaped well when a close third over C&D last week following a 9-month absence. Sorbonne's reappearance effort on the all-weather was encouraging and he is feared most, for all that a slower surface would be ideal. Ayr Poet is also accorded respect.