13:30 Ayr

Thursday 22 December 2022

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Coral First For Racing 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:34 | Winning time: 3m 54.87s

Captain Nelson²⁶⁴

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

250/1

Showed nothing in a C&D bumper on debut 8 months ago so easily passed over.

Form: 7-

Cream Of The West⁷⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: N W Alexander

18/1

£20,000 4-y-o, Westerner gelding. Half-brother to 2 point winners. Dam unraced sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 25f) Moscow Court. Runner-up completed start in Irish points (Oct 2020). Market for clues.

Form: F2/

Eloi Du Puy^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

28/1

10/3, went backwards from hurdling debut when eighth of 9 in a novice at Kelso (16.2f, soft) 28 days ago. Has something to prove now.

Form: 25-38

Fia Fuinidh¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Todhunter

40/1

Placed on the second of 2 outings in Irish points but just minor promise so far under Rules. Handicaps presumably after this.

Form: P3-36

Highlander Hill²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: Paul Robson

150/1

Mahler gelding who showed only a bit in Carlisle bumper on debut last month.

Form: 5

Ivar⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| BFWS

4/5

Fair form when runner-up in a pair of 4-y-o events at Pau in December last year and filled same position on return/yard debut at Bangor last month, held run-in but pulling clear of rest. Had a breathing op since and looks the one to beat.

Form: 22-2

Prince Of Perth⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

16/1

Sent off 33/1 but offered something to work on when fourth in a C&D bumper on debut 59 days ago. Longer trip should help now switched to hurdling, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 4

Shantou Moon^t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson

100/1

Maiden Irish pointer who is seemingly being brought along with handicaps in mind, unsuited by drop in trip when down the field at Kelso (16.2f) 18 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 7U3378

Shir I Dont Know²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: I Jardine

50/1

Just modest in bumpers and well held in a pair of novice hurdles.

Form: 6663

Tarquin Stardust^h⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans

200/1

Shaped as if better for the run in a Wetherby bumper on debut in February but has shown little in a brace of novice hurdles 8 months apart.

Form: 66-P

Tenbobeachway²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

33/1

Looks one more for the longer term.

Form: 55

Thistle Ask^h,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Ewart

13/2

Only midfield in bumpers but showed plenty when second of 24 in a Naas maiden on his hurdle debut in February (final start for Stuart Crawford). Ran below that level on his reappearance/stable debut at Newcastle 26 days ago but probably needed the run. Hood back on.

Form: P862-4

Vango Opera¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly

300/1

Well held both starts in maiden hurdles.

Form: 00

Ruby Island⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| D

5/2

Trans Island filly who has built a solid profile in bumpers, off the mark at Hexham in March and acquitting herself with plenty of credit in stronger company at Aintree/Cheltenham this autumn. Type to make her mark over hurdles, including over further.

Form: 31-24

Forecasts

Ivar (4/5), Ruby Island (5/2), Thistle Ask (13/2), Prince Of Perth (16/1), Cream Of The West (18/1), Eloi Du Puy (28/1), Tenbobeachway (33/1), Fia Fuinidh (40/1), Shir I Dont Know (50/1), Shantou Moon (100/1), Highlander Hill (150/1), Tarquin Stardust (200/1), Captain Nelson (250/1), Vango Opera (300/1)

IVAR made an encouraging British debut after nearly a year off when runner-up at Bangor last month and this looks a good opportunity for him to go one better. Ruby Island has laid a solid foundation for hurdling in bumpers and rates the biggest threat, ahead of Thistle Ask, who probably needed the run on his recent stable debut at Newcastle.