17:15 Ayr

Friday 1 April 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Thistle Cabs Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 6m 6.53s

Loughderg Rocco^p1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 123| D

7/1

Irish point winner who has taken well to hurdling, winning a Musselburgh maiden last month. More will be needed if he's to defy top weight on handicap debut but no shock were he to find it. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 21-251

Skatman^t⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

12/1

Won first 2 hurdles. Found life tougher in handicaps last twice but has been given a break since fading into fourth on testing ground at Doncaster in December. Remains unexposed for his top stable.

Form: 18/1-164

Ballycoose²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 120| C

16/1

Bumper winner who made a winning start to his hurdle career over 2m here in December. Similar form when fourth in 20.5f course novice last month. Steps up in trip again for handicap debut. Retains potential.

Form: 11P4

Your Own Story²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

6/1

Dual point scorer who confirmed his hurdling debut promise when landing a 6-runner novice at Carlisle (25f) 3 weeks ago. Likely there's more to come from him now moving into handicaps.

Form: 431131

Taxmeifyoucan^v⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 115

25/1

Has struggled for form in varied events since 3¼m success at Musselburgh 14 months ago but he is on a good mark and it's interesting that Brian Hughes takes the ride again. Worth a precationary market check.

Form: 169-574

Deluxe Range^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 114

6/1

Winning hurdler who made an inauspicious start over fences to end 2021 but better signs back hurdling, finishing third of 8 at Warwick last month. Well handicapped on his best form.

Form: 23-4553

Colonel Manderson⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 112| D

4/1

Failed to complete on return/debut for new yard over fences, but has improved back hurdling since, winning a 3m Southwell handicap before a creditable second at Warwick. Another to consider.

Form: 6-4F212

Smokey The Bandit^b²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 102

9/1

Fair maiden. Runner-up in 2 handicaps at Newcastle since the blinkers have gone on but a bit more will likely be needed if he's to go one better in this higher grade.

Form: 568322

Stringtoyourbow²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 101

3/1

Left his qualifying runs well behind when close second on 20.5f Newbury handicap debut 28 days ago, just edged out after travelling best. Up in trip. Interesting contender.

Form: 3-7692

Forecasts

Stringtoyourbow (3/1), Colonel Manderson (4/1), Deluxe Range (6/1), Your Own Story (6/1), Loughderg Rocco (7/1), Smokey The Bandit (9/1), Skatman (12/1), Ballycoose (16/1), Taxmeifyoucan (25/1)

DELUXE RANGE has edged back to a good mark so he's the suggestion for the Sandy Thomson team. Unexposed-trio Stringtoyourbow, Skatman and Your Own Story head the dangers in an interesting finale where it's hard to rule out any.