14:35 Ayr

Friday 10 March 2023

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Enjoy The Virgin Bet Raceday Tomorrow Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 9.45s

Jimmy Rabbitte³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100| D

33/1

Shaped as if retaining ability returning from over 2 years off at Musselburgh in November, going well in share of third when falling 4 out. Jumping again failed the test at Catterick a month ago and he's now back over timber.

Form: 642/F6F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Herculaneum¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 99

9/2

Maiden on Flat/over hurdles who ran best race yet on back of 9 months off when second in 16-runner Punchestown handicap (20.5f) 16 days ago, challenging approaching last and keeping on. Much-inflated mark to defy on these shores though, which makes things tougher.

Form: 5603-52

Zwicky⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 95

9/2

Showed further improvement on third start in handicaps when landing 7-runner Sedgefield handicap (21f) in January, staying on to lead final 50 yds. Remains relatively unexposed and that may not prove his limit. Yard also saddle Smart Boyo.

Form: 054-P51

Bestiarius¹⁰⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 93| D

18/1

Veteran. Infrequent winner but largely consistent during first half of last year and right back to form when second at Kelso (20.9f) in November. Clearly not 100% back at that venue later that month but he's a likely candidate to bounce back.

Form: 23652P

Euchan Falls^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: R M Smith| OR: 90| D

3/1

Confirmed more encouraging signs in handicaps when opening account in first-time cheekpieces at Musselburgh (19.8f) 19 days ago, by 2¾ lengths from Smart Boyo, keeping on well.

Form: 69-9261

El Jefe^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 88

12/1

Sedgefield winner last winter but has offered little in his 3 outings this season, always behind when ninth of 11 at Newcastle (16.9f) 13 days ago.

Form: 567-909

Syltezar^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 88

28/1

Poor form in bumpers and yet to make an impact over hurdles. Some encouragement in novice at Kelso last time, though, and this slightly longer trip should help on handicap debut.

Form: 55-704

No Mor Isolation⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 86

16/1

Yet to make an impact in maidens/handicap hurdles at up to 3m and hard to make a case for despite sliding mark.

Form: 50047P

Ultra Violet^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 82

7/1

Fairly useful on Flat in France. Not managed to get near that level over hurdles, albeit faring better than previously this term when second in a Catterick maiden (15.7f) 10 days ago. Comes here from career-low mark if step back up in trip aids his cause.

Form: 34-7PP2

Getaway Gerry⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 77

28/1

Given a chance by the handicapper and produced his best effort to date when runner-up at Kelso (2m) in December 2020. Missed whole of last year though, and well beaten both starts so far this campaign.

Form: 0402/60

Smart Boyo^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 74

5/1

Modest Flat winner. Most encouraging effort to date over hurdles when runner-up to Euchan Falls in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (19.8f) 19 days ago, making effort sooner than ideal. Better off at weights with that rival now and he's in the mix again.

Form: 587-042

Non-Runners

Perfect Arch¹⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: J J Lambe J: Liam McKenna

Forecasts

Euchan Falls (3/1), Zwicky (9/2), Herculaneum (9/2), Smart Boyo (5/1), Ultra Violet (7/1), El Jefe (12/1), Perfect Arch (16/1), No Mor Isolation (16/1), Bestiarius (18/1), Getaway Gerry (28/1), Syltezar (28/1), Jimmy Rabbitte (33/1)

SMART BOYO arrives having produced his best effort to date over hurdles when runner-up at Musselburgh 19 days ago, worn down late on by re-opposing Euchan Falls having made his effort sooner than ideal. He could be worth chancing to reverse those placings on these revised terms. The selection's stablemate, Zwicky, who tasted success at Sedgefield in January, is another expected to be in the mix.