16:58 Ayr

Wednesday 18 May 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:58

Menabrea Handicap

Off time: 16:59 | Winning time: 2m 17.02s

(9)

Markazi²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ryan Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 65| C

12/1

Course winner. 6/1, fifth of 7 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f, good) 20 days ago. Possibly working his way to full fitness and he's on a handy mark.

Form: 2750-75

(1)

Music Seeker^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 64| D

9/1

Twenty runs since last win in 2019. Seventh of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (8f, heavy, 22/1) 43 days ago. Back up in trip. Has work to do.

Form: 5/088-77

(7)

Smart Connection^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 64| BF| D

16/5

Latest win at Lingfield in March. 9/4, good fourth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago. Can give a good account again.

Form: 11-2414

(10)

Dark Company²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 64

9/2

Untrustworthy individual. Ninth of 12 in handicap at Beverley (9.9f, good to firm, 14/1) 27 days ago. Hard to make a strong case for.

Form: 498899

(3)

Wickywickywheels¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: J S Goldie| OR: 64

10/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 33/1, first run since leaving Andrew Hughes when eleventh of 15 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good to firm) 10 days ago, met some trouble. Uphill task.

Form: 550-0

(11)

Clansman²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: L Bailey| OR: 64| D

9/2

1 win from 2 runs this year. Winner at Redcar in April. 6/1, fifth of 7 in handicap at this C&D (good) 22 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 4446-15

(4)

Granite City Doc^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 63| D

25/1

Last of 7 in handicap at Hamilton (11.1f, good, 33/1) 17 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Others make more appeal.

Form: 7/9738-7

(6)

Ayr Poet²⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 61| C

13/2

Course winner. 15/2, ninth of 10 in handicap at this course (8f, good to firm). Off 8 months. Back up in trip. Likely to need this first run back.

Form: 333569-

(8)

Royal Regent^p²²³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 59| BF| CD

9/1

3-time C&D winner. 10/3, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at this C&D (soft). Off 7 months. Consistent sort who will likely give his running on comeback.

Form: 431534-

(2)

Wildmountainthyme¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

25/1

Good fourth of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f, 150/1) 19 days ago. Limited sort who struggles to get involved even from basement mark.

Form: 63/0-094

Non-Runners

(5)

Ralphy Boy Two¹²²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 5

T: Ewan Whillans J: G Lee

Forecasts

Smart Connection (16/5), Clansman (9/2), Dark Company (9/2), Ralphy Boy Two (6/1), Ayr Poet (13/2), Royal Regent (9/1), Music Seeker (9/1), Wickywickywheels (10/1), Markazi (12/1), Wildmountainthyme (25/1), Granite City Doc (25/1)

SMART CONNECTION has been holding his form terrifically well and would have been close to winning with a clear run at Lingfield last time, so he gets the nod in a race that lacks depth. Ralphy Boy Two is a danger and Clansman can't be ruled out.