20:15 Ayr

Saturday 6 August 2022

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Specsavers Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 28.88s

(7)

Merricourt^p¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| CD

11/4

C&D winner. Latest win here in April. 11/1, good third of 6 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f, good) 1 day ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 412823

(2)

Three Saints Bay¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: K Stott| T: L Bailey| OR: 68| DWS

33/1

Unreliable sort. Twenty three runs since last win in 2019. Well-backed 4/1, below form after 7 months off when sixth of 7 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f, good). Off over 3 months. Had a breathing operation since and this should reveal where he's at.

Form: 95830-6

(3)

Blowing Wind^p⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 65

11/2

Run best excused when eighth of 11 in handicap at Pontefract (6f, good, 17/2) 40 days ago. (raced on the worst of the ground). Back up in trip and could run into the placings from an easing mark.

Form: 400-058

(6)

Eternal Glory¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 70| D

40/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in May. Ran poorly when seventh of 8 in handicap (13/2) at Chelmsford City (7f) 13 days ago, slowly away. Must improve.

Form: 618357

(4)

First Greyed^v³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 63| D

11/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2020. 13/2, ran well back down in trip after 9 weeks off when second of 8 in handicap at Haydock (7f, good) 36 days ago. Yard in good form and no surprise should he feature.

Form: 640-772

(1)

St Andrew's Castle^b³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mathers| T: I Jardine| OR: 64| C

4/1

Course winner. 25/1 and blinkered for 1st time, returned to form from out of the blue when second of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 3 days ago, well placed given how things unfolded. Enters calculations provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 058072

(5)

Timbukone^v1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 64

14/1

17/2 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, below form when seventh of 9 in handicap at this course (8f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Visor on 1st time. Has work to do.

Form: 2-23467

(8)

Judgment Call⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 58| BF

11/4

11/8, ran as well as he has all year when third of 6 in handicap at this C&D (good) 5 days ago, no extra inside final 1f. Yet to register a first success so others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 054463

Forecasts

Judgment Call (11/4), Merricourt (11/4), St Andrew's Castle (4/1), First Greyed (11/2), Blowing Wind (11/2), Timbukone (14/1), Three Saints Bay (33/1), Eternal Glory (40/1)

First-time blinkers seemed to sharpen up ST ANDREW'S CASTLE when he returned to form from out of the blue at Newcastle on Wednesday. Provided that choice of headgear works just as well at the second attempt, he's fancied to get the job done and belatedly add to his debut success at this venue. Stablemate Merricourt heads up the opposition, with Judgment Call another worth considering.