16:15 Ayr

Saturday 18 September 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 1m 38.11s

(11)

Marie's Diamond¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| CD

12/1

Regarded the winning thread over C&D in July. Respectable efforts next 2 starts but found good run halted at Ripon last time. Could bounce back.

Form: 671265

(7)

Dance Fever²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 100

7/2

Stylish scorer at Leicester in July and has posted a trio of solid efforts in defeat since, keeping on for fourth at Goodwood (7f) latest without being suited by run of the race. Can go well again.

Form: 2-01324

(3)

Cruyff Turn³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 98| D

11/2

Reaped rewards of switch to positive tactics as he added fourth success of campaign to the tally at York (7.8f) last month. Likeable type but handicapper applies a little more pressure now.

Form: 181171

(5)

Shelir¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

17/2

Added another near miss to his tally this season when second in 10-runner event at Pontefract (1m) 15 days ago, headed line. Should remain competitive.

Form: 202292

(10)

Fame And Acclaim³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J L Eyre| OR: 97| D

12/1

Very useful handicapper who has well held his form well for a couple of yards this season, so appeals as the type to bounce back from a below-par performance behind Cruyff Turn at York last time.

Form: 220330

(1)

Revich^v⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Angus Villiers⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 92| BF| D

20/1

Goes well at Chester and posted another good effort when third there in August, but surprisingly, underperformed back there last week. Bounce back called for.

Form: 002437

(6)

Garden Oasis^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91| CD

20/1

Enjoying a fine season, producing a career best to record a fourth victory this campaign at Ripon (1m) 19 days ago, battling well. Is most straightforward but more needed again up 6 lb.

Form: 821011

(2)

Hong Kong Harry²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| BF| C

7/2

Made it 3 from 3 on turf in when readily landing 8-runner handicap here (7.2f) in May. Shaped well when third at Lingfield 4 months later and could get back on the up with that under his belt.

Form: 116-113

(12)

Jump The Gun³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 82| BF| D

9/1

Scored at Hamilton (8.3f) in June but his strike rate is not the best and he ran below expectations at Carlisle last month having raced too freely.

Form: 361936

(4)

Challet^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 81| D

17/2

Posted career best under front-running tactics when landing 1m Ripon handicap in August, but did too much too soon when behind Garden Oasis there last time.

Form: 517314

Non-Runners

(8)

Young Fire³⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: D O'Meara J: Non Runner

(9)

Maraakiz²

Weight: 8-3| Age: 3

T: Miss L A Perratt J: Laura Pearson

Forecasts

Hong Kong Harry (7/2), Dance Fever (7/2), Cruyff Turn (11/2), Shelir (17/2), Challet (17/2), Jump The Gun (9/1), Marie's Diamond (12/1), Fame And Acclaim (12/1), Young Fire (14/1), Revich (20/1), Garden Oasis (20/1), Maraakiz (33/1)

DANCE FEVER continues to shape up well, and with this step back up to 1m unlikely to pose a problem, he's taken to double his tally for the season. Hong Kong Harry is a low mileage sort boasting a good strike rate, so he's considered a big threat with a recent run under his belt. Cruyff Turn is proving very likeable and completes the shortlist.