16:15 Ayr

Monday 25 October 2021

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

Christmas Parties At Western House Hotel Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 4m 49.90s

Jess's Corner^h⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: V Thompson| OR: 100

80/1

Yet to win a race of any description following 18 attempts (Flat and jumps) in Ireland and a minor role is the most likely outcome on this debut for new connections.

Form: 5980U-R

Flood Defence^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine| OR: 94

1/1

Near miss on latest start in this sphere at Perth last month and has subsequently performed with credit in handicaps on the Flat. No concerns with regard to trip/ground and she's a major player.

Form: 020-642

Coopers Boy^h1,t¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 94

22/1

No great impact in maiden/novice company so far and while moving up in trip for this handicap debut may help, he needs to take a significant step forward. Hood enlisted.

Form: 9057-5

Veshenskaya^h¹⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 90

15/2

Raised her game when fifth on handicap bow at Wetherby (3m) in March. Not so good at Huntingdon next tine, but it's still early days and she's worth a second look back down in trip with hood refitted.

Form: 5635-V0

Flash Moriviere^p1⁴⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Coltherd| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 79

50/1

French import who was beaten a country mile on each of his 3 starts in novice hurdles last year. Off 14 months ahead of this handicap debut and sports first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 000-

Killane²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 73

9/2

Well held in a bumper and trio of maiden hurdles to date, but he's in good hands and it'll be interesting to see what the market has to say now that he ventures down the handicap route.

Form: 00-60

Midnight Antics^t¹⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: T Collier| OR: 72WS

16/5

Runner-up in a bumper for Sue Smith in 2019, but little to write home about since. Has undergone a third win op since latest start at Huntingdon in May and she's hard to warm to.

Form: 5/008P-7

Non-Runners

Get Phar¹³³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: D Brooke J: Craig Nichol

Bestiarius³⁷⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: G Boanas J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Flood Defence (1/1), Midnight Antics (16/5), Get Phar (7/2), Killane (9/2), Bestiarius (7/1), Veshenskaya (15/2), Coopers Boy (22/1), Flash Moriviere (50/1), Jess's Corner (80/1)

FLOOD DEFENCE has yet to taste success from 9 starts over hurdles, but she appeared to benefit from stepping up to a similar trip to this when going close at Perth last month. The 7-y-o has since acquitted herself well on the Flat and she looks the most solid option here. Bestiarius resumes on a potentially handy mark and is feared most ahead of Veshenskaya.