13:35 Ayr

Saturday 12 March 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 11.1s

Grand Morning^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| C

12/1

Signed off last season with handicap success over C&D but only fair form this term, held when fell 2 out at Uttoxeter 28 days ago. Back down to last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 1-9254F

Lord Roco^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 116| D

11/2

Hit the line powerfully when off mark in Newcastle novice (20.3f) in January, but never landed a blow upped in trip on handicap debut at Doncaster last month. Remains with potential back over shorter.

Form: 6-65215

Better Getalong¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 116| C| D

11/2

Had dropped to a career-low mark and, back over hurdles, ended a long losing run when successful in conditionals handicap at Carlisle (19.3f) 12 days ago. Still remains well-treated on old form.

Form: 25U431

Benack^p1,t1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Ewart| OR: 112

5/1

Half-brother to smart hurdler/useful chaser Darver Star. Third in a point and stepped up on first 2 starts over hurdles when fourth in maiden here (20.4f) last month. Tongue strap/cheekpieces now on.

Form: 3-5644

Ned Tanner²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 112

2/1

Failed to build on hurdles debut promise when third at Haydock, but resumed progress when off the mark in Kelso novice (22.7f) in December. Creditable third on handicap bow here last month (24.3f).

Form: 3-44313

Blow By Blow^p⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 108| D

14/1

Unreliable type who turned in one of better efforts when third in handicap hurdle here (20.5f) in December. Respectable fourth at Doncaster (24.4f) last time but it's now 20 runs since his last win.

Form: 282634

Arthur's Seat²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: T Bulgin| OR: 108

7/1

Useful dual bumper winner for Keith Dalgleish in 2020/21 but hasn't matched that level in 3 starts over hurdles so far, well beaten in both outings for new yard this year (handicap debut on latest).

Form: 221-246

Flamboyant Joyaux¹⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: Paul Robson| OR: 106| D

22/1

Made it 2-3 for new yard in 21.6f handicap chase at Kelso in September. However, only fourth up in grade at Market Rasen (21.4f) when last seen later that month. Improvement needed now back hurdling.

Form: 89-5114

Sword Of Fate³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: L Kerr| OR: 101| D

33/1

Readily won handicap chase at Perth (2m) in September and followed that effort with a creditable second at Catterick. However, has been below form in 3 starts since. Back up in trip over hurdles.

Form: 412526

Alf 'n' Dor²⁸⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Reed| T: T Reed| OR: 97| C| D

50/1

Returned from a lay-off for new stable to win handicap chase here (20.5f) in May. Added to patchy record next time though when only eighth at Cartmel later that month and has been off 9 months since.

Form: P4PP/18

Non-Runners

Bak Rocky¹²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: A M Thomson J: Edward Austin

Forecasts

Ned Tanner (2/1), Benack (5/1), Better Getalong (11/2), Lord Roco (11/2), Arthur's Seat (7/1), Grand Morning (12/1), Blow By Blow (14/1), Bak Rocky (16/1), Flamboyant Joyaux (22/1), Sword Of Fate (33/1), Alf 'n' Dor (50/1)

BETTER GETALONG was down to a career-low mark last time and, reverted to hurdling, gained his first success for over 4 years at Carlisle 12 days ago. He remains well-treated on old form having been rated 138 at his peak and he could be able to go in again. A pair of unexposed rivals dropping back in trip can give him most to think about, with Ned Tanner feared most ahead of Lord Roco.