14:45 Ayr

Saturday 12 March 2022

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

Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 27.10s

Ballycoose⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| C

10/3

Won a course bumper on debut and looked a good prospect when following up hurdling debut (2m) here in December, staying on well. Latest run at Down Royal easily excused and remains with potential.

Form: 11P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Hasty Brook⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

9/2

Third on the first of 2 bumper outings last March and made a successful switch to hurdles at Clonmel in January for Joseph O'Brien. Likely more to come for his in-form new yard stepping up in trip.

Form: 37-1

Gaillimh A Stor²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander

11/4

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Nov 28) and shaped well sent hurdling when fifth in a C&D maiden 25 days ago, nearest at the finish. Likely to improve.

Form: 5-15

Here Comes The Man¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

11/1

Big-money buy following sole point win. Failed to meet expectations in a course bumper in May and hasn't fared much better both starts over hurdles. Back down in trip after a break.

Form: 1-665

Leitrim Chief⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart

2/1

Showed clear signs of ability in a Punchestown bumper and shaped with even more promise when third at Navan (20f) on hurdles debut. Has since left Stuart Crawford and open to improvement.

Form: 7-33

Tarquin Stardust^h1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans

50/1

£28,000 3-y-o, Great Pretender gelding who shaped as if better for the run in a Wetherby bumper on last month's debut. Upped in trip and fitted with a hood now sent hurdling.

Form: 6

Penny River^t³⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W AlexanderWS

150/1

Down the field in a Newcastle bumper and pulled up both starts over hurdles. Has had a breathing operation since.

Form: 8P-P

Non-Runners

Roan³⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: I Jardine J: C O'Farrell

Your Own Story²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Leitrim Chief (2/1), Gaillimh A Stor (11/4), Ballycoose (10/3), Hasty Brook (9/2), Your Own Story (9/2), Here Comes The Man (11/1), Roan (16/1), Tarquin Stardust (50/1), Penny River (150/1)

LEITRIM CHIEF ran to a fairly useful level first time up over hurdles when third in a large-field maiden at Navan in January, and with that performance backed up by the timefigure, he looks to have leading claims on first start for his new stable. Hasty Brook and Ballycoose are a couple of others to take seriously having made promising starts to their careers, also.