15:15 Ayr

Thursday 7 October 2021

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

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 13.42s

(13)

Cold Stare^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| D

4/1

Latest win at Haydock in August. 5/1, creditable second of 12 in handicap at this course (7.2f, good to soft) 9 days ago, left with too much to do. Same mark here.

Form: 256012

(2)

Black Friday⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 86| CD

11/2

Three-time C&D winner. Latest win here in July. 14/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at this course (7.2f, good to soft) 9 days ago.

Form: 361704

(5)

Tipperary Tiger⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 82| D

20/1

18/1, respectable 5¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Big Les in handicap at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Should strip fitter for that but much more needed.

Form: 12-5708

(9)

John Kirkup^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 81| CD

9/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in July. Creditable 3¾ lengths fifth of 14 to Big Les in handicap (10/1) at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 721605

(7)

Lord Oberon^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 81| D

40/1

9½ lengths eleventh of 14 to Big Les in handicap at this C&D (good, 16/1) 9 days ago. Likely he needed that.

Form: 323700

(1)

Big Les⁹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J Garritty| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 76| CD

5/2

11/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Carries 5 lb penalty but retains handicap scope.

Form: 339771

(10)

Rhythm¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 80| D

33/1

Latest win at Windsor in June. First run since leaving Richard Hannon when good second of 10 in handicap (25/1) at York (6f, good) 13 days ago.

Form: 186-912

(12)

Erich Bloch⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 77| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Seventh of 8 in handicap (9/1) at Catterick (6f, good to firm) 43 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Should leave that run well behind and easing ground no concern.

Form: 13-5267

(4)

Kapono^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 77| D

17/2

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap (5/1) at Newcastle (6f) 13 days ago, keeping on well. That race was run to suit but enters calculations up just 1 lb.

Form: 132561

(8)

Global Humor^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 76| C| D

16/1

Course winner. 4 wins from 15 runs this year. 13/8, career best when winning 4-runner handicap at Hamilton (5f, good to soft) 17 days ago, suited by way race developed.

Form: 134461

(3)

Pearl Of Qatar^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: T Davidson| OR: 75| CD

22/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 19 runs this year. Bit below form twelfth of 22 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm, 40/1) 20 days ago, left poorly placed. Becoming well treated.

Form: 563460

(11)

Impressor^b⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: D Allan| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 70| D

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2019. Eighth of 9 in handicap (20/1) at Beverley (5f, good to firm) 72 days ago.

Form: 097048

Non-Runners

(6)

Rose Bandit¹⁷

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Big Les (5/2), Cold Stare (4/1), Black Friday (11/2), Kapono (17/2), John Kirkup (9/1), Rose Bandit (14/1), Global Humor (16/1), Erich Bloch (16/1), Tipperary Tiger (20/1), Pearl Of Qatar (22/1), Impressor (25/1), Rhythm (33/1), Lord Oberon (40/1)

BIG LES went through last week's C&D race with authority and ultimately ran out a decisive winner. On that evidence, a 5 lb penalty won't prevent a very bold follow-up bid. Kapono also won last time and is just 1 lb higher, while Erich Bloch could be interesting with easing underfoot conditions a plus.