15:20 Ayr

Friday 17 September 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:00

Virgin Bet Ayr Bronze Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 9.82s

(25)

Bernardo O'Reilly⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Angus Villiers⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 86| D

9/1

Useful sprinter who was back to form when second at Ascot (6f. good to firm) this month. Shaped as if still very much at the top of his game when fourth of 12 at Doncaster last week.

Form: 638024

(11)

Musicality^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 85| D

25/1

Has drawn a blank since taking a 6f Newmarket handicap (good to soft) in August 2020 but his latest Newcastle fourth in a first-time visor (cheekpieces return now) was respectable.

Form: 908394

(22)

Out The Hat^p⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 87| D

66/1

Bagged 6f handicaps at Hamilton and Haydock in the summer. Good third of 7 in handicap at Carlisle (6f, good to firm) last month but needs to shrug off a poor run at Chester last time.

Form: 114839

(15)

Boogie Time²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 82| D

20/1

Progressive when completing a 6f hat-trick from the front in July/August but his run of good form came to an abrupt halt at Newmarket last time.

Form: 741115

(5)

Show Me Show Me¹⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80

33/1

Has notched 2 5f turf wins this summer. Even better when second of 11 on AW at Newcastle 15 days ago and races off the same mark here. Has yet to prove he's quite as effective over 6f, though.

Form: 710012

(13)

Danzan^b²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

11/2

Thirty runs since last win in 2018 but he has been thereabouts off similar marks in recent months. Whether he can snap that losing run in a race as warm as this is another matter, though.

Form: 844233

(8)

Be Proud⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 79| BF| C

11/1

Three-time 5f winner this year, the latest at Sandown in August. Creditable fifth of 17 over 6f at Haydock latest. Races off 2 lb lower here. Very durable.

Form: 521385

(7)

Ghathanfar²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 83| D

14/1

Consistent sort who ran as well as he's ever done when a close third at York in July. Made the frame yet again this year when third of 13 at Thirsk latest. Each-way player again.

Form: 224373

(16)

Flying Pursuit^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| CD

28/1

Third in the Gold Cup here in 2019 and was a creditable fifth in this race last year. Hasn't fired in recent starts but he is back on a handy mark and no surprise if he revives.

Form: 435000

(17)

Citron Major⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| D

66/1

Took advantage of reduced mark at York (6f, good) in July but he's largely operated below his best this year, including when 6 lengths fifth of 7 to Call Me Ginger at Doncaster last week.

Form: 806104

(4)

Call Me Ginger⁸^{(ex 8)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| D

4/1

Has often shaped well in defeat and it's finally clicked with him of late, winning over 6f at Hamilton and Doncaster. Had a bit in hand at latter venue last week and can make bold bid for hat-trick.

Form: 924311

(3)

John Kirkup^b⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 82| CD

33/1

C&D winner who was successful over 5f here in July. Not at his best when sixth of 9 at Thirsk (5f, good) on sole run since

Form: 0-97216

(10)

Fortamour¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Hanagan| T: B Haslam| OR: 82| D

12/1

Slipped in the weights and much improved with headgear removed when successful at Ripon (6f) last month. Hold-up tactics not seen to best effect at Ascot since and likely still in form.

Form: 387815

(20)

Northernpowerhouse^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 82| D

22/1

Hard to fancy based on his last 2 efforts but he was fourth in the Silver Cup off 5 lb higher 12 months ago so it wouldn't be a shock were he to bounce back to form.

Form: 304407

(23)

Ventura Express¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82

14/1

Dual 5f winner at Pontefract this year. Good second of 16 to Mark's Choice over 6f at Ripon last month and shaped as if still in form when third back at Pontefract latest.

Form: 256323

(21)

Mark's Choice¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: S England| OR: 79| C| D

11/1

Landed his fourth win over 6f at Ripon when seeing off Ventura Express and Danzan in August. Looked unlucky off this mark back there since. Former course winner and high on the shortlist.

Form: 450712

(1)

Never Dark⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 74

33/1

Bounced back to form to win at Musselburgh in August. Has recorded a couple of respectable efforts here since but he's not well treated under a penalty (current mark 2 lb lower).

Form: 330163

(14)

Pearl Of Qatar^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: T Davidson| OR: 77| CD

40/1

Three wins this year, the latest coming over C&D off this same mark. Held by Call Me Ginger on Hamilton form last month but it's possible a short break since could have a reviving effect.

Form: 556346

(12)

Pockley²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 78| D

40/1

20/1, first run since leaving Roger Fell when good second of 7 in handicap at Carlisle (6f, good to firm) off this mark 22 days ago.

Form: 632352

(24)

Chookie Dunedin¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 76| CD

40/1

Generally consistent sort who has edged down to an attractive mark. Didn't get home over 1m at Haydock last time and should find this test more suitable.

Form: 404346

(9)

True Mason^p,h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: S A Gray| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 74| D

18/1

Drawn a blank since a 2-y-o novice win in 2018. Did well under the circumstances (met trouble) when fifth of 16 to Mark's Choice at Ripon (6f, good to firm) latest but strike-rate hardly compelling.

Form: 053475

(19)

Thornaby Pearl⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Barry McHugh| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 75| D

28/1

Has landed a pair of 6f handicaps since joining Adrian Nicholls. This is a lot more competitive but his lightly-raced profile provides hope for better still. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 331631

Non-Runners

(6)

Secretinthepark²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 11

T: R Menzies J: P J McDonald

(2)

Twilight Madness²⁰

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: S Hodgson J: Jason Hart

(18)

Thegreatestshowman¹³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: Miss A Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Call Me Ginger (4/1), Danzan (11/2), Bernardo O'Reilly (9/1), Be Proud (11/1), Mark's Choice (11/1), Fortamour (12/1), Twilight Madness (12/1), Secretinthepark (12/1), Ghathanfar (14/1), Ventura Express (14/1), True Mason (18/1), Boogie Time (20/1), Northernpowerhouse (22/1), Musicality (25/1), Thornaby Pearl (28/1), Flying Pursuit (28/1), Never Dark (33/1), Show Me Show Me (33/1), John Kirkup (33/1), Chookie Dunedin (40/1), Pearl Of Qatar (40/1), Pockley (40/1), Out The Hat (66/1), Citron Major (66/1)

Hard to be sure what the effect of the draw will be but CALL ME GINGER arrives in top form, is 2 lb well-in compared to his new mark and is taken to complete a hat-trick. Mark's Choice looked unlucky at Ripon last time and heads the many dangers along with lightly-raced 3-y-os Twilight Madness and Thornaby Pearl. Flying Pursuit has a decent record at this meeting and also merits respect.