12:30 Ayr

Tuesday 21 December 2021

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:4515:15

Come Racing On January 2nd 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 3m 57.60s

Ballycoose²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| D

4/1

Irish raider who looks an interesting recruit to hurdling after running out a cosy winner of a Down Royal bumper on debut in May. Needs monitoring closely in the betting.

Form: 1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bridge Road¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

33/1

Has merely hinted at ability in a bumper/Uttoxeter maiden hurdle and is probably one for handicaps at longer trips.

Form: 06-P8

Douglas Talking^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

11/1

Bumper winner who looks a work in progress over hurdles, shaping much better than the distance beaten suggests at Aintree prior to finishing fifth at Newcastle. Tongue tie on for the 1st time.

Form: F-195

Euchan Falls³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith

300/1

Well held in a pair of bumpers.

Form: 80

Parisencore²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 110

11/8

Runner-up on second of 2 starts in bumpers and has matched that form when filling same spot both starts over hurdles, still looking a bit raw under pressure at Newcastle latest. Leading contender.

Form: 52-22

Sure Touch²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| BF

15/8

Fairly useful bumper winner who wasn't seen to best effect when second in 4-runner maiden at Southwell (15.8f, good) on hurdles debut 28 days ago, running on after set plenty to do. Sure to improve.

Form: 10-2

Travail D'Orfevre³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| CD

12/1

Course bumper winner who shaped with some encouragement on the back of a wind operation sent hurdling when fourth in a C&D novice 35 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 18-4

Annies Regatta²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: W Coltherd

150/1

Achieved little in bumpers and did likewise sent hurdling at Doncaster (19.4f) 24 days ago.

Form: 57-45

Gustav's Dream²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander

250/1

Looks more one for low-grade handicaps a bit further down the line.

Form: 67

Non-Runners

Desert Sapphire²⁶⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Parisencore (11/8), Sure Touch (15/8), Ballycoose (4/1), Douglas Talking (11/1), Travail D'Orfevre (12/1), Desert Sapphire (20/1), Bridge Road (33/1), Annies Regatta (150/1), Gustav's Dream (250/1), Euchan Falls (300/1)

Bumper-winner SURE TOUCH was set too much to do by his rider in a steadily-run affair on his hurdling debut at Southwell 4 weeks ago, so is well worth another chance with improvement very much on the cards. Ballycoose and Parisencore look the main threats.