13:15 Ayr

Saturday 22 April 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 3m 53.73s

Malystic³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: P D Niven| OR: 147| D

8/1

At the very top of his game this winter, recording brace of handicap wins over 2m at Wetherby and Doncaster. However, unable to land a blow in Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury and well held in Grand Annual since.

Form: 2P1140

Elixir De Nutz^p,t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 146| D

6/1

Has come on again this term, responding well to headgear when easy winner from the front at Wincanton (20.2f) before good second of 4 in Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Well held in Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival since but this less competitive.

Form: P-92129

Pay The Piper⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 142| D

5/1

Steadily found his form this season, readily regaining winning thread at Musselburgh (15.8f) in February and only just edged out in follow-up bid at Doncaster (16.4f). Decent fifth in Red Rum at Aintree 9 days ago and should be thereabouts again.

Form: 343125

Frere d'Armes^t1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| BF| D

2/1

Surpassed hurdle exploits when making a successful start to chase career at Kempton in November and further improvement when defying 8 lb rise at Newbury later that month. Good second (to a subsequent winner) back from a break at Ascot 3 weeks ago and big shout off same mark. Tongue strap on.

Form: 165-112

Return Ticket^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Menzies| OR: 136| CD

15/2

Won twice from 4 starts last season, notably this race off 1 lb higher. Mostly below form since but back to form with a bang (had wind op) when winning at Carlisle 2 weeks ago and worth considering now.

Form: 552641

Hasankey^v⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 135| CD

13/2

Made excellent strides over fences last season and while yet to win this term, he arrives in good form, fourth in Red Rum at Aintree 9 days ago despite an early blunder. Considered.

Form: 267324

Gold Des Bois^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 126| D

18/1

Started the season with back-to-back wins in 4-runner races at Kelso. Just the one creditable effort since, only fourth of 5 in handicap chase at Doncaster (16.4f, good) 49 days ago.

Form: 146354

Coastguard Station^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 123| BF| D

9/1

Dual winning pointer who improved on his hurdles form when making a winning chase debut in 2m handicap at Doncaster in November. Good runner-up efforts both starts since but stepping up in class now.

Form: 1-73122

Ardera Cross⁴²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 99| CD

80/1

Fair handicap chaser who's in good form but firmly up against it from miles out of the handicap.

Form: 7P5112

Non-Runners

Baron De Midleton¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: B Ellison J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Frere d'Armes (2/1), Pay The Piper (5/1), Elixir De Nutz (6/1), Hasankey (13/2), Return Ticket (15/2), Malystic (8/1), Coastguard Station (9/1), Baron De Midleton (10/1), Gold Des Bois (18/1), Ardera Cross (80/1)

FRERE D'ARMES was beaten only by a subsequent winner when going for the hat-trick at Ascot 3 weeks ago and remains one to keep on the right side of. Hasankey and Pay The Piper both shaped better than the bare result in the Red Rum at Aintree recently so are potential threats along with last year's winner Return Ticket.