Ayr Sunday Market At Ayr Racecourse Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 2m 57.29s

(5)

Tendentious⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72

9/1

Winner at Doncaster in April. Fifteenth of 17 in handicap (20/1) at York (16.2f, good) 57 days ago, eased down. Bit to prove on the back of that poor effort.

Form: 3336-10

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(2)

Witham River⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Christian Howarth| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 69

7/1

14/1, twelfth of 13 in handicap at York (16.2f, good to firm) 9 days ago. This drop back in trip looks a good move and he's greatly respected off a career-low mark.

Form: 200-630

(4)

Graces Quest⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Shannon Watts⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 67

7/4

Latest win at Carlisle in June. Creditable second of 5 in handicap (2/1) at Hamilton (11.1f, good to firm) 4 days ago, no match for winner. Likely to be in the mix once again.

Form: 313512

(6)

Well Planted²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 55

9/4

Ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, good, 10/1) 2 days ago. Below par on latest start in this sphere, but he's down to a dangerous mark and couldn't rule out.

Form: 251649-

(1)

Desert Quest¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Aiden Brookes| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 54

12/1

33/1, respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at this course (10f, good to firm) 15 days ago. Significantly back up in trip and others make more appeal.

Form: 2115-76

(3)

Starlyte²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 51

6/1

Thrice-raced maiden on Flat. Fair winner at 20f over hurdles. Fourth of 9 in maiden at Hamilton (9.2f, good to firm, 33/1) 25 days ago. Significantly up in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 774

Forecasts

Graces Quest (7/4), Well Planted (9/4), Starlyte (6/1), Witham River (7/1), Tendentious (9/1), Desert Quest (12/1)

WITHAM RIVER can be expected to appreciate dropping back in trip here having contested handicaps at around 2m the last twice, and he earns the vote in a trappy-looking contest. Well Planted has slipped to a dangerous mark and will be a danger to all if on-song, but he was well down the field over hurdles at Cartmel on Sunday and Graces Quest, who arrives here in good heart, is feared most.