14:15 Ayr

Tuesday 14 February 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 28.31s

Operation Overlord^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| CD

9/2

Made winning handicap debut over hurdles here in November 2021. Showed more than on return/chase debut when second in a 4-runner handicap chase back here (16.5f, heavy) last month but this fragile sort will need to up his game in order to make it third time lucky over fences.

Form: 45/21-P2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Broadway Joe^p1⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| DWS

9/1

Immediate improvement switched to fences last term, winner of his first 3 starts in this sphere. Good start to this season when third off 5 lb higher at Kelso but backward steps since and needs to get back on track following another wind op with cheekpieces enlisted here.

Form: 223-347

Deep Charm^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100

10/1

Improved sent chasing last term, runner-up in handicaps at Kelso either side of winning one off this mark at Hexham. Bettered low-key reappearance effort when third of 10 back at Kelso (21.6f, heavy) last time and he should have a part to play.

Form: 12P4-P3

Lisloran³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Ross| OR: 97| BF| CD

4/1

Back-to-back C&D winner in November/December and perhaps found the step up to 25.2f on deep ground too much of a test at Catterick last time. Still, he's now on what looks a tough mark (8 lb higher than for his latest success) and will probably find this a shade too competitive.

Form: 6-07115

Storm Tiger¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 92

9/2

Winless following 7 attempts over hurdles but caught the eye when fifth in a 16-runner handicap on return at Wetherby (19.7f, soft) where he put in good late work having been left with plenty to do. Successful sole start between the flags and very much of interest on this chase debut.

Form: 09459-5

Sputnik⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 91| CD

13/2

Off the mark over fences at Hexham last spring and had bit in hand when making a winning reappearance over this C&D in October. Beaten over 18 lengths when third to Lisloran back here last time but now 10 lb better off with that rival and he's not without hope.

Form: 5-131P3

The Electrician^p⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R M Smith| OR: 90| D

12/1

Modest maiden over hurdles but got his head in front at the second attempt in this sphere at Hexham (2½m, soft) last May. However, safely held in C&D handicaps won by Lisloran both starts this season and likely to come up short once again.

Form: P-8125P

Ardera Cross¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 88| C| D

10/1

Six-time C&D winner who returned to form when narrowly outpointed by Lisloran here in November. Well held all 3 subsequent starts, though, and this 12-y-o is opposable, for all that he's slipping down the weights.

Form: 5627P5

Broomfields Kan^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 83

8/1

Winner between the flags and posted one of his better efforts in this sphere when third in a 10-runner handicap here (16.5f, heavy) last month. Moving back up in trip looks a good move but record stands at 0-16 under Rules.

Form: 245P-83

Forecasts

Lisloran (4/1), Storm Tiger (9/2), Operation Overlord (9/2), Sputnik (13/2), Broomfields Kan (8/1), Broadway Joe (9/1), Ardera Cross (10/1), Deep Charm (10/1), The Electrician (12/1)

This has an open look to it and the vote goes to STORM TIGER, who shaped well back from a 12-month absence over hurdles at Wetherby and this former point winner is on an attractive mark now switched to fences. Deep Charm took a step back in the right direction at Kelso and he is feared most ahead of Sputnik, who was well adrift of Lisloran over C&D last time but enjoys a handy pull at the weights.