13:15 Ayr

Thursday 6 October 2022

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:17 | Winning time: 2m 21.13s

(5)

Dundory^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 75| D

11/4

3 wins from 11 runs this year. Latest win at Goodwood in September. Good second of 8 in handicap at Epsom (12f, good, 8/1) 11 days ago, left poorly placed. Leading claims.

Form: 124412

(2)

Hilts²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Finley Marsh| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 74| BF| D

9/2

Won first 2 starts this season and found a little more improvement when placed in handicaps at Haydock/Thirsk earlier this summer. Clearly not himself at Pontefract (12f) 3 weeks ago and better expected here.

Form: 110230

(11)

Shine On Brendan⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 69| C

11/2

Resurgent having fallen plenty in the weights for this yard, gaining fifth success of the year at Hamilton (8.3f) in August. Did enough to confirm his stamina for this trip when third at Redcar 2 starts back but shade underwhelming over C&D since.

Form: 161038

(6)

Sophiesticate⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Kirrane| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71| CD

20/1

C&D winner in August and improved further to follow up at Musselburgh (12.5f) later that month. Proved too free and well held all 3 starts subsequently but present mark demands more in any case.

Form: 211007

(3)

Ebony Maw²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 64| D

9/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. 50/1, creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at this course (13.1f, good) 20 days ago. Needs to build on that returned to this shorter trip but his mark is easing all the time.

Form: 876364

(1)

Yellow Bear²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 68

14/1

Winner at Thirsk in April. Blinkered for 1st time, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at this course (1m) 20 days ago. Tackles this longer trip for first time now.

Form: 105680

(4)

Royal Regent^p⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Murtagh| T: R M Smith| OR: 62| CD

6/1

Veteran 4-time C&D winner who confirmed himself back in better heart when keeping on for third in a C&D handicap 9 days ago. Rates a live each-way player once more with a repeat.

Form: 165853

(12)

Cabinet Maker¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oliver Stammers| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 64

20/1

Kept busy this year and gained third victory on AW at Kempton (1m) in August. Best excused run in London Mile at Kempton in September. Respectable efforts both starts since but still to prove himself as effective on turf.

Form: 151035

(7)

Flying Moon²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Breslin| T: R M Smith| OR: 59| CD

12/1

Rattled off a C&D hat-trick in July and best effort since when fourth in 8-runner Carlisle handicap (11f) in August. Seemingly stretched by step up to 13f back here 3 weeks ago and this looks more suitable.

Form: 178640

(8)

Spanish Hustle¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 58| D

12/1

Temperamental sort. First run since leaving Chris Gordon when seventh of 11 in handicap (12/1) at Hamilton (8.3f, good) 10 days ago. That was his first start for 3 months and he may well be sharper now.

Form: 401-037

(9)

Gurkhali Girl^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Russell| T: I Jardine| OR: 59

33/1

Winner at Musselburgh (9f) in August. Last of 10 in handicap at Thirsk (1m, soft) 24 days ago, hampered briefly home turn and struggling soon after. More needed from this revised mark.

Form: 574510

Non-Runners

(10)

Sixstar²²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: T D Easterby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dundory (11/4), Hilts (9/2), Shine On Brendan (11/2), Royal Regent (6/1), Ebony Maw (9/1), Spanish Hustle (12/1), Flying Moon (12/1), Sixstar (12/1), Yellow Bear (14/1), Sophiesticate (20/1), Cabinet Maker (20/1), Gurkhali Girl (33/1)

DUNDORY has enjoyed a good season already and, despite being left poorly placed, shaped as if still in good form when runner-up in the Apprentices' Derby 11 days ago. He gets the nod from the same mark, with Hilts and Flying Moon heading up the dangers.