14:25 Ayr

Saturday 22 April 2023

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

Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 43.04s

First Street^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| D

6/1

Resumed with a win in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury (2m) in November. Matched that level when keeping-on third in Grade 2 Relkeel at Cheltenham (2½m) on New Year's Day. Respectable mid-field finish in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. His mark demands a very smart effort.

Form: 25-1330

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Colonel Mustard⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Kieren Buckley⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler| OR: 146| D

9/2

Developed into a very useful hurdler last term. In frame in 2 maiden chases in Ireland before Christmas and ran a stormer returned to hurdles when 2 lengths second to Benson in Morebattle at Kelso (2m) last month, racing closer to pace than ideal. Major player.

Form: 337-422

Highway One O Two³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: C Gordon| OR: 143| D

7/1

Like many from this yard, returned in excellent form in the autumn, winning over 2m at Ascot in October. Back to that sort of level when sixth of 24 to Faivoir in County at Cheltenham last time. Ought to be competitive from an unchanged mark.

Form: P-21376

Soaring Glory¹¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 143| D

8/1

Smart hurdler who won the Betfair Hurdle in 2021. Failed to take to chasing on reappearance and not at best back hurdling at Newbury just after Christmas. Off since. Fresh for this stage of season but hard to be sure what form he's in.

Form: 1435-P5

Anna Bunina^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 142| CD

13/2

Classy mare who won this off 12 lb lower last year and scored 3 times (2 hurdle, 1 Flat) in a very productive spell last summer. Respectable ninth of 24 in the County at Cheltenham but it underlines that she needs more from her current mark.

Form: 960429

Milkwood³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138| CD

14/1

Won this race off 4 lb higher in 2021 but this season's efforts raise doubts over whether he's quite the force of old, pulling up in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month. First-time hood worn on that occasion is quickly discarded.

Form: 5-F244P

Rubaud^h⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

7/2

Useful on the Flat in France and similar standard over hurdles. Too lit up when fading into tenth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury but resumed progress in a first-time hood (retained) when landing Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton. On the shortlist.

Form: 8-11201

Salsada^p,t⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 127| C

11/1

Useful Flat/hurdles winner who got right back on track when second to Epatante in 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January. Has to run from 3 lb out of the weights here but still no surprise to see her in the shake-up.

Form: 122-2

Royal Mogul^t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126

50/1

Fairly useful maiden in bumpers for Fergal O'Brien and sound start over hurdles for new yard, winning maiden at Catterick in November and novice at Newcastle in February. Unexposed but this a tough ask from out of the weights on handicap debut.

Form: 23-2121

Parisencore⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| D

14/1

Made it three wins in 4 starts when returning from a break to see off 6 rivals in 2m Wetherby handicap in October. Disappointing behind First Street in Gerry Feilden next time but quickly back on track when runner-up at Musselburgh in February. 4 lb out of handicap.

Form: 11-2152

Non-Runners

Nemean Lion⁴⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Kerry Lee J: Non Runner

L'eau Du Sud⁴⁹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Forecasts

Rubaud (7/2), Colonel Mustard (9/2), L'eau Du Sud (11/2), First Street (6/1), Anna Bunina (13/2), Highway One O Two (7/1), Soaring Glory (8/1), Nemean Lion (8/1), Salsada (11/1), Parisencore (14/1), Milkwood (14/1), Royal Mogul (50/1)

Irish-raider COLONEL MUSTARD shaped very well when faring comfortably best of those who raced up with the pace when second in the Morebattle at Kelso and can go one better in another valuable Scottish handicap hurdle now. Rubaud and L'Eau du Sud, who was a place behind the selection in the Morebattle, head the dangers in a good renewal.