13:14 Ayr

Tuesday 27 September 2022

All13:1413:4414:1914:5415:2916:0416:3917:10

Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:14 | Winning time: 1m 44.70s

(8)

Hartswood⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Connor Murtagh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

8/1

Last of 4 in handicap (6/1) at York (7.9f, good to firm) 67 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Down another 4 lb and also eased in grade, he has to be of interest.

Form: 0-59054

(7)

Harswell Duke⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 78

5/2

17/2, creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good to soft) 42 days ago. Reproduction of that effort would put him firmly in the picture.

Form: 543695

(2)

Shaladar^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: O McSweeney⁽³⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 79| D

9/2

Latest win at Hamilton in July. 14/1, eleventh of 15 in handicap at York (10.2f, good) 23 days ago. Back down in trip and looks vulnerable.

Form: 122120

(1)

Poet's Dawn³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

8/1

Didn't need to improve to win 12-runner handicap (5/1) at Beverley (8.4f, good to firm) 30 days ago, digging deep. More needed up 4 lb, but he's likely to give it a good shot.

Form: 322351

(4)

Tommy G⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Shannon Watts⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 70| CD

5/1

Three-time C&D winner. Latest win here in September. Below form fifth of 11 in handicap (8/1) at Goodwood (9f, good) 6 days ago. Definite chance back at this venue.

Form: 498015

(6)

Merricourt^p⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Poppy Wilson⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| BF| CD

20/1

C&D winner. 11/4, below form fourth of 8 in handicap at this course (7.2f, good) 52 days ago, left poorly placed. By no means ruled out but will probably find one or two too good.

Form: 128234

(5)

Engles Rock^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 67| CD

7/2

Three wins from 10 runs this year. Won 14-runner handicap at this C&D (good, 10/1) 11 days ago, suited by way race developed. High on the shortlist.

Form: 046141

Non-Runners

(3)

Alpine Sierra¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: K Dalgleish J: Zak Wheatley

(9)

Ayr Poet¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: J S Goldie J: Amie Waugh

Forecasts

Harswell Duke (5/2), Engles Rock (7/2), Shaladar (9/2), Tommy G (5/1), Ayr Poet (5/1), Poet's Dawn (8/1), Hartswood (8/1), Alpine Sierra (10/1), Merricourt (20/1)

Cases can be made for the majority of these. HARTSWOOD was too free in a steadily-run race at York last time and, having hinted at a return to form on his penultimate start at Newcastle, he is taken to strike off a reduced mark down in grade here. Recent C&D winner Engles Rock is feared most, though Tommy G looks dangerous and Harswell Duke is also strongly considered.