16:20 Ayr

Friday 10 March 2023

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

Visit Irish Store Sales With ITM EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 5m 15.79s

Ruby Island³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 118| C

5/6

Fairly useful in bumpers and made it 2 from 2 over hurdles with victory in 2m Wetherby novice 34 days ago, responding well. Better still to come now stepping up in trip.

Form: 31-2411

Windtothelightning¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 117| D

6/4

£35,000 purchase out of the pointing field who built on an encouraging hurdle debut third when scoring by 12 lengths at Sedgefield (2½m). Progressed again when following up on Market Rasen handicap debut and further improvement likely.

Form: 2-311

Alien Encounter¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: L Kerr

250/1

Looks limited on early evidence.

Form: 90-PP

Bridget Breeze¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas

11/2

From a good family and was the pick of the paddock before making a successful start at Kelso in September. Backed it up with a solid showing at Uttoxeter and ran about as well as could be expected in better company at Cheltenham. Interesting hurdling debutante.

Form: 127

Glen Ali^b1⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine

150/1

Pulled up both starts between the flags and no impact in a pair of maiden hurdles. First run for yard after leaving Ms Claire O'Connell. Blinkered for 1st time.

Form: PP-0P

Jean Armour²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith

80/1

Offer little in a course bumper on debut 24 days ago. Upped in trip for hurdles bow.

Form: 8

Theirshegoes¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson

80/1

Looks a longer-term project.

Form: 48

Torosay³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Getaway filly. Dam (h88), winning pointer/placed over hurdles, half-sister to fairly useful chaser (stays 3¼m) Up Helly Aa King. Shaped like a stayer in her bumper and was quickly put in her place when things got serious sent hurdling after 3 months off at Carlisle.

Form: 65

Turkey And Ham^t1³¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly

33/1

Mount Nelson mare. Half-sister to bumper winner Notkeepinyagoing. Pulled up sole start in Irish points (Apr 2022). Tongue tied for Rules debut.

Form: P-

Non-Runners

El Poppochapo³⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: S R B Crawford J: D A Jacob

Elmley Lovett

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Not In Kansas¹¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: N W Alexander J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Ruby Island (5/6), Windtothelightning (6/4), Bridget Breeze (11/2), El Poppochapo (13/2), Elmley Lovett (12/1), Torosay (25/1), Turkey And Ham (33/1), Theirshegoes (80/1), Jean Armour (80/1), Not In Kansas (100/1), Glen Ali (150/1), Alien Encounter (250/1)

The way in which RUBY ISLAND has knuckled down for pressure on both hurdle starts to date suggests there's plenty more to come from her now stepping up in trip, so she's selected to maintain her unbeaten record in this sphere. Windtothelightning is also very promising and has to be taken seriously, with Bridget Breeze also of interest on this switch to hurdling having laid a solid platform in bumpers.