16:50 Ayr

Monday 25 October 2021

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

Christmas Parties At Western House Hotel Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 39.90s

Steinkraus¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100

5/2

Best effort yet when second of 10 at Carlisle on handicap debut 11 days ago (17f). keeping on well. Step up in trip sure to suit and has plenty in his favour.

Form: 26/5-372

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Melanamix¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 98

16/5

Irish point winner who took a marked step in the right direction on second handicap try when fourth at Hexham (2m) in March. Similar effort here in May and remains unexposed.

Form: 134P4-4

Scots Sonnet²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Reed| T: J S Goldie| OR: 95| D

11/1

Modest Flat performer who belatedly shed maiden tag when running out comfortable scorer over hurdles at Perth (20f) last month. Not in the same form over fences soon after and new mark has kicked in.

Form: 486F15

Sputnik²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 92

8/1

Off the mark in 2m Hexham handicap in May before good sixth of 12 there in June when caught further back than ideal. Shaped as though in need of the run back from a break at Kelso.

Form: 634-169

Petite Rhapsody³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 83

6/1

Just modest form over hurdles thus far though would have finished placed had he not fallen 2 out at Perth a month ago.

Form: 75408F

The Bravest²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 91

7/2

Placed on 2 of his 3 starts on the Flat as a 2-y-o. Jumping lacked fluency in a brace of juvenile hurdles this summer but gets big weight allowance now handicapping.

Form: 43

Mileva Roller³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 68

22/1

Arrives on back of good third to Scots Sonnet at Perth last month. Has had plenty of chances and is 6 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 3F/0793

Non-Runners

Esme Shelby³³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

That's Your Lottie¹⁶⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: K Scott J: S Mulqueen

Forecasts

Steinkraus (5/2), Melanamix (16/5), The Bravest (7/2), Petite Rhapsody (6/1), Esme Shelby (6/1), Sputnik (8/1), Scots Sonnet (11/1), That's Your Lottie (14/1), Mileva Roller (22/1)

STEINKRAUS was nicely clear of the rest when runner-up at Carlisle 11 days ago and the way he finished off his race on that occasion, this step up in trip is sure to suit. He is very much the one to beat, for all The Bravest is open to improvement as a 3-y-o in receipt of a healthy age allowance. Melanamix is another to consider.