12:35 Ayr

Tuesday 29 November 2022

All12:0012:3513:1013:4014:1014:4015:10

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 13.22s

Charm Offensive^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| CD

9/4

Ended last season with back-to-back victories at this course (including over C&D) and returned with a sound second here 3 weeks ago, headed near the finish. Mark has crept up a little more but she's a live player once more.

Form: 23411-2

Kingfisher Lane¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Stephen Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 111

33/1

Registered first success on handicap debut at Downpatrick (18.7f) in May but not scaled same heights either start since, never a threat back from 5 months off at Navan (22f) 16 days ago.

Form: 08-6190

Whistleinthedark²⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 110| D

11/2

Improved on opening hurdles exploits when off the mark in a Plumpton maiden (20.5f) last December. Disappointed on second of 2 starts in handicaps at Fontwell back in March but he's made an interesting yard switch ahead of return and he's one to monitor closely in the betting.

Form: 24/2133-

Nikgarde⁶⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Ewart| OR: 110WS

14/1

7-y-o who landed a Kelso novice (20.8f) prior to a good third under a penalty back in 2020 but absent since finishing down the field in a Newcastle handicap during spring of last year. Undergone wind surgery since.

Form: 041368/

Nights In Venice²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: D W Whillans| OR: 107

12/1

Modest in bumpers and whilst he's only run to a similar level in trio of maiden/novice hurdles, he has improved with each outing. Entitled to hold more chance now handicapping.

Form: 9/29945-

Dot Cotton^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 105

20/1

Ended time with Paul Nolan with a good second in a mares' maiden at Wexford (3m) and backed that up when 5 lengths fourth of 5 on yard/handicap debut over C&D 20 days ago, no extra run-in. Possible she'll come on for that here.

Form: U44624

Gentleman De Mai²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 103| C

5/2

Promising sort who overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in a 2m novice here last autumn and returned with an encouraging fifth in 13-runner Kelso handicap (20.8f) 24 days ago, the steady gallop not suiting. Likely he has plenty more to offer.

Form: 2/1-5

Jet Legs¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: M Todhunter| OR: 101

11/2

Definite promise on 2 of his 3 starts in novice hurdles (at upto 20f) and whilst he was below his best on handicap debut at Newcastle (16.2f) 12 days ago, this greater test of stamina may well play to his strengths.

Form: S62-46

Young Moloney¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Bourke| OR: 90

22/1

Beaten a fair way both starts over hurdles in Ireland but better signs for new yard, best effort yet when second on handicap debut at Cartmel (22f) in July. However, she dropped away quickly back from 4 months off at Newcastle (20.3f) 12 days ago.

Form: 55F-227

Non-Runners

Gold Emery²⁸¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: D McCain Jnr J: Peter Kavanagh

Forecasts

Charm Offensive (9/4), Gentleman De Mai (5/2), Gold Emery (7/2), Whistleinthedark (11/2), Jet Legs (11/2), Nights In Venice (12/1), Nikgarde (14/1), Dot Cotton (20/1), Young Moloney (22/1), Kingfisher Lane (33/1)

Successful in a course novice over shorter last term, GENTLEMAN DE MAI shaped with plenty of promise when fifth on his recent return/handicap debut at Kelso, not well served by the steady gallop and noted finishing with running left. Very much on a handy mark, he gets the nod to confirm the promise of that run, with likeable mare Charm Offensive and Gold Emery others fancied to be in the mix.