18:30 Ayr

Monday 30 May 2022

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:05

Royal Mile Handicap

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 2m 9.31s

(2)

Cathayensis⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Oliver Stammers⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 65| D

11/8

Three wins from 6 runs this year. 7/2, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Haydock (10.2f, good) 4 days ago, forging clear. 1 lb lower here so very much the one to beat.

Form: 211641

(9)

Graces Quest²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 62

11/2

Confirmed promise of previous run and better than ever when winning 8-runner handicap at Musselburgh (12.5f, good) 21 days ago, soon clear.

Form: 038-331

(6)

Ayr Empress^v²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S H James| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 61| BF

28/1

Reappearance winner at Musselburgh in April. Last of 5 in handicap (15/8) at Musselburgh (9f, good) 21 days ago, brushed aside.

Form: 3389-15

(4)

Kraken Filly^p1⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 56

25/1

Very good fourth of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good, 11/1) 5 days ago. Cheekpieces now reached for but regular slow starts mean she comes with risks attached.

Form: 66-9794

(1)

Flying Moon¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: R M Smith| OR: 53| C

14/1

Course winner. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, good to soft, 7/2) 17 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 8634-37

(3)

Royal Countess⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 51| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Good third of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good, 7/1) 5 days ago (second past the post but subsequently disqualified).

Form: 750-66D

(7)

Golden Vintage²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 65

12/1

Promising type. Eighth of 14 in minor event (25/1) at Thirsk (8f, good to soft) 23 days ago, slowly away. Up in trip. Makes handicap debut and open to progress.

Form: 538

(5)

Lordman^h³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: H Palmer| OR: 62

4/1

9/2, respectable sixth of 12 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good to firm) 30 days ago, slowly away. Up in trip.

Form: 6530-56

(8)

Chinese Spirit³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Gianluca Sanna⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 47| C

22/1

Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Won 6-runner handicap (14/1) at Carlisle (9f, good to firm) 3 days ago. Same mark here but this is a deeper race.

Form: 543-601

Forecasts

Cathayensis (11/8), Lordman (4/1), Graces Quest (11/2), Royal Countess (8/1), Golden Vintage (12/1), Flying Moon (14/1), Chinese Spirit (22/1), Kraken Filly (25/1), Ayr Empress (28/1)

CATHAYENSIS dominated a race at Haydock on Thursday and given she's 1 lb lower here, her follow-up claims are there for all to see. Graces Quest also arrives on the up and can offer most resistance, with Golden Vintage a likely improver handicapping over a more suitable trip.