13:30 Ayr

Thursday 7 October 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap

Off time: 13:33 | Winning time: 2m 15.53s

(4)

Molinari¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Nolan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 74| D

15/2

Latest win at Hamilton in September. 10/3, creditable third of 6 in handicap at Catterick (13.9f, good to firm) 19 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Drop back in trip looks the right move.

Form: 447113

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(2)

Innse Gall¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 72| CD

10/3

C&D winner in August. 11/4, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Ripon (12f, good to firm) 12 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Can continue in good heart.

Form: 564123

(3)

Tommaso⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: P A Kirby| OR: 70

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Fifth of 7 in handicap (16/1) at Carlisle (9f, good). Off 91 days. First run for yard after leaving Stef Keniry. Plenty of improvement required.

Form: 3345

(8)

Dr T J Eckleburg¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69| CD

5/1

C&D winner who posted a respectable third after 12 weeks off at Newmarket (10f) 14 days ago, not ideally placed. Entitled to come on for that, so he's greatly respected off the same mark.

Form: 251263

(9)

Firewater^p⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| CD

6/1

Has been below form on his last 3 starts, but he was successful in this corresponding event from the same mark as today’s 12 months ago, so not ruled out.

Form: 13-2075

(6)

Finally Mine⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 64

6/1

Remains a maiden after 16 Flat runs. Not disgraced when fourth of 6 in handicap (10/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 9 days ago, but seemed to have every chance.

Form: 404654

(5)

Royal Regent^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: R M Smith| OR: 60| CD

10/3

3-time C&D winner, latest in August. 18/1, respectable third of 13 in handicap at this course (8f, good to firm) 20 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 543153

(1)

Firby³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 54

22/1

Just the one win from 20 career starts. Encouraging return from a lengthy absence at Hamilton in July, but has failed to beat a rival both outings since.

Form: 304/508

Non-Runners

(7)

Natchez Trace¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D Carroll J: Harrison Shaw

Forecasts

Natchez Trace (5/2), Innse Gall (10/3), Royal Regent (10/3), Dr T J Eckleburg (5/1), Finally Mine (6/1), Firewater (6/1), Molinari (15/2), Tommaso (14/1), Firby (22/1)

NATCHEZ TRACE pulled clear of the rest when runner-up in a useful handicap at Nottingham last week and makes obvious appeal turned out quickly from the same mark. Dr T J Eckleburg should be all the better for a recent run and may yet have a bigger performance in the locker. Last year’s winner Firewater is not taken lightly, either.