16:45 Ayr

Friday 21 April 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Thistle Cabs Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 54.29s

Milan Bridge⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| BF| D

6/1

Pretty useful 3-time hurdle winner. Hasn't got near that level over fences this winter but his very solid hurdle record makes him a player back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 1-214B4

Quick Draw^b⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124| BF

17/2

Scored twice over hurdles for Tom Lacey last term and notched 2 chase wins at around 21f for current yard this winter. Ran poorly when bidding for a hat-trick at Kempton in February and now reverts to hurdles after a short break.

Form: 8-4211P

Aramax^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 123

6/1

Winner of the Fred Winter for Gordon Elliott at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Lost his way in recent times but he did run his best race for this stable when third of 6 in Newcastle handicap debut last month, albeit merely closing up late.

Form: P87773

Don Hollow^t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

11/1

Wetherby bumper winner last season and struck at the third time of asking over hurdles at Catterick (19.5f) just after Christmas. Disappointing on Kempton handicap debut with a tongue tie added but given time since and retains potential for his top yard.

Form: 1-3417

Ladronne^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Collier| OR: 115

10/1

Pair of chase wins in the autumn. Mostly creditable efforts since, including when fifth back over hurdles at Wetherby in February. Placed twice over fences in recent weeks.

Form: 125623

Off To A Flyer⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 113| D

9/2

Cost £180,000 after winning sole outing in points. Placed twice in novice hurdles this winter but beaten a long way out in EBF Final at Sandown on last month's handicap debut. That was a tough race but it's hard to be confident after that.

Form: 15-632P

Atacanter¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieren Buckley⁽³⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 113

11/1

Improved when second of 15 on 3m Leopardstown handicap debut in March and yet to be asked for effort when unseating 3 out at Cork since. Remains open to further progress.

Form: 60052U

Lepashe⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Allwood| OR: 112| D

11/1

Successful between the flags last spring. Going the right way over hurdles, just failing on 3m Doncaster handicap debut in February. Could be more to come and on the shortlist here.

Form: 21-4342

Ratfacemcdougall^t⁹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 110| D

22/1

Racked up 5 wins over hurdles in 2020/21 season but has largely struggled to make an impact since. Mark continues to fall but could only really consider if the betting vibes are strong back from a break.

Form: 5-P45U4

Community Rebel^h¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 109| D

22/1

Successful on last of 4 starts in Irish points and made it third lucky over hurdles in 3m Musselburgh maiden in early January. First-time hood worn on that occasion is retained now handicapping after a break.

Form: 5-31451

Shadows In The Sky³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 107| D

33/1

Point winner. Went close in 3m Musselburgh maiden on hurdle debut in January. Has failed to reproduce that twice since but is unexposed now switching to handicap company under Brian Hughes.

Form: F-1254

City Derby^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 105

7/1

Back to form with a bang for new stable when winning 21f Wetherby handicap 15 days ago. 5 lb rise is fair but he does have stamina to prove.

Form: 239451

Jessiemac^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 94| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Eighth of 11 in C&D handicap (good, 6/1) 42 days ago, finding little. Has work to do from 4 lb out of handicap.

Form: 0P4258

Non-Runners

Small Present¹³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Non Runner

Firth Of Forth⁶⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: R Dobbin J: Non Runner

Kingfisher Lane¹⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: S R B Crawford J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Off To A Flyer (9/2), Aramax (6/1), Milan Bridge (6/1), City Derby (7/1), Quick Draw (17/2), Ladronne (10/1), Don Hollow (11/1), Atacanter (11/1), Lepashe (11/1), Kingfisher Lane (14/1), Jessiemac (16/1), Small Present (16/1), Ratfacemcdougall (22/1), Community Rebel (22/1), Firth Of Forth (25/1), Shadows In The Sky (33/1)

MILAN BRIDGE has struggled over fences lately but his hurdle record can't be knocked and he might prove the answer to this competitive finale. Atacanter, Lepashe and recent Wetherby scorer City Derby also make the shortlist.