14:30 Ayr

Tuesday 15 February 2022

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 43.19s

If Not For Dylan^h¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-7| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 112| CD

5/1

C&D winner who posted good second of 11 in handicap chase at Wetherby (24.2f) 19 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 444712

Caboy^t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103| D

9/2

Thirteen runs since his last win in 2018 but he recorded good second of 6 in handicap chase at Wetherby (21.3f) 39 days ago. Not taken lightly eased 2 lb now.

Form: 284-232

Ard Chros^p,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 97| C| D

7/1

Course winner but he's an unreliable type and failed to stay when sixth of 9 in handicap chase at Sedgefield (26.3f) 32 days ago. Back down in trip yet others still appeal more.

Form: 52-5656

Broomfields Kan⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 93

11/1

Below-form sixth of 10 in handicap chase at Catterick (19.2f) 49 days ago. More is required if he's to open his account here.

Form: 09P036

Knocknamona³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93| C| D

9/2

Course winner who also bagged 20f handicap chase at Newcastle (25/1) 38 days ago. Up 8 lb but had more in the locker there so veteran mertis serious consideration.

Form: 7P8-7P1

Wee Small Hours^t²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M Rice| OR: 88| D

11/1

It's now twenty six runs since his last win back in 2018 but he comes here on the back of creditable second of 16 in handicap chase at Down Royal (20f) 21 days ago. Irish raider can't be ruled out.

Form: 5-50302

Mymilan^b⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 85

15/2

Took a step back in the right direction in first-time blinkers when sixth of 11 in handicap chase at Catterick (25.2f) 49 days ago. Headgear retained and worth considering dropped back in trip.

Form: P/847-P6

Newberry New^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: H Bethell| OR: 81| D

15/2

Continues below form, only eighth of 12 to Knocknamona in 20f handicap chase at Newcastle 38 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 32-PP58

Choctaw Brave⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Reed| T: T Reed| OR: 80WS

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler/chaser. Pulled up in 3m handicap chase (28/1) at Uttoxeter 46 days ago. Since had wind op and lots to prove at present.

Form: 2/6903P

Forecasts

Caboy (9/2), Knocknamona (9/2), If Not For Dylan (5/1), Ard Chros (7/1), Newberry New (15/2), Mymilan (15/2), Broomfields Kan (11/1), Wee Small Hours (11/1), Choctaw Brave (12/1)

KNOCKNAMONA scored in taking style at Newcastle last month so this course winner is taken to go in again and defy an 8 lb rise with that form having been franked. Caboy arrives on a lengthy losing run but is feared most on the back of his good Wetherby second, although Mymilan is weighted to have a say too if building on his Catterick sixth in second-time blinkers.