15:15 Ayr

Monday 27 February 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2517:00

Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 22.97s

Rowdy Rustler^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 111| D

4/1

Signed off last season by landing a Newcastle maiden hurdle and, following a second wind op, this former point winner made a promising start over fences when runner-up at the same course in November. Conditions were testing when well beaten here since and probably worth another chance.

Form: 5261-23

Bobby Bow⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 110| D

10/3

Winning Irish pointer who made a successful Rules debut over hurdles at Hexham in November 2020. Shaped very well when second on chasing bow following a lengthy absence at Ffos Las (20.9f) and likely to make a bold bid to go one better here.

Form: 14863/2

Road Warrior^p,t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 109| DWS

40/1

Consistent last term but has shown little spark since returning to action in October and needs to bounce back in a major way following a second wind op. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: P2-764P

Ripper Roo^p1,t⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 108| D

17/2

Landed the odds in a maiden hurdle at Market Rasen last spring but no show 2 starts switched to fences since returning from a lengthy layoff. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 2331/60

Where's Hector^h³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 103

11/4

Consistent over hurdles last season and by no means disgraced starting out over fences in a first-time hood (retained) when third at Catterick (19.2f), for all that he was ultimately flattered by his finishing position. Others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 223-773

Deep Charm¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 98

20/1

Improved sent chasing last term, runner-up in handicaps at Kelso either side of winning one at Hexham. However, pulled up on 2 of his 3 starts since returning to action in December and now has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 2P4-P3P

The Jad Factor^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 98| D

7/1

Winner over hurdles at Newcastle last term and was in the process of running well when falling in handicap hurdle here early last month. Needs to raise his game now switched to fences.

Form: 3125-0F

Ardera Cross¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 92| CD

13/2

Not getting any younger but proved that the first still burns bright when notching seventh success here recently. Remains on a good mark up 4 lb and while a reproduction of that cannot be guaranteed given his up-and-down profile, he will have every chance if in a similar mood.

Form: 627P51

Non-Runners

Gold Emery³⁰

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: D McCain Jnr J: B S Hughes

Hell On Earth⁵⁹⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: C Bissett J: Bruce Lynn

Wee Small Hours³⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 14

T: M Rice J: Jonathon Bewley

Forecasts

Where's Hector (11/4), Bobby Bow (10/3), Rowdy Rustler (4/1), Ardera Cross (13/2), Wee Small Hours (13/2), The Jad Factor (7/1), Gold Emery (8/1), Ripper Roo (17/2), Hell On Earth (16/1), Deep Charm (20/1), Road Warrior (40/1)

BOBBY BOW made a most encouraging start over fences when runner-up at Ffos Las where he pulled well clear of the rest, an effort that was all the more meritorious considering that he was returning from a 21-month absence. If able to build on that here, he will prove a tough nut to crack. Veterans Ardera Cross and Wee Small Hours were both successful last time and need considering but the lightly-raced Gold Emery is feared most. Rowdy Rustler is also shortlisted.