14:55 Ayr

Monday 8 May 2023

All13:5514:2514:5515:3016:0516:3517:10

Alice's 70th Birthday Handicap

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 2m 12.20s

(1)

First Impression¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 82| CD

10/3

C&D winner. Creditable sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle (18/1) at this course (16f, good) 17 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat and, though safely held on latest start in this sphere, he's certainly not without hope.

Form: 3414-68

(11)

Val Bassett¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81

10/1

12/1, first run since leaving Fabrice Chappet when seventh of 8 in handicap at Ripon (9.8f, soft) on UK debut 18 days ago. Entitled to come on for that run and likely that his respected yard will find the key to him before long.

Form: 815/00-7

(9)

Snapius^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: J Nash| OR: 80| D

16/1

20/1, below form eleventh of 25 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat, winner of a Fairyhouse claimer on latest start in this sphere/final run for Joseph O'Brien last May.

Form: 34460/1-

(3)

Society Red^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

12/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, good second of 8 in handicap at Ripon (9.8f, soft, 18/1) 18 days ago, better placed than most. Forecast conditions won't be an issue (fully effective on good/good to firm) and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 956-682

(5)

Zahee^h,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Mr C McConnell⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 77

12/1

Unreliable type. 28/1, respectable ninth of 16 in handicap at Limerick (8f, soft) 16 days ago, never nearer. Step back up in trip looks a good move and definite chance for respected Irish yard if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 84274-9

(2)

Highwaygrey⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| CD

4/1

C&D winner. 20/1, good third of 13 in handicap at Haydock (10.2f, good to firm) 9 days ago, not knocked about. Not taken lightly off the same mark.

Form: 17530-3

(6)

Morning Sun²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74

15/2

Lightly-raced maiden. 16/1, first run since leaving Sir Michael Stoute when respectable third of 13 in handicap at Redcar (10f, heavy) 21 days ago. Possibilities if able to build on that.

Form: 3463-3

(7)

Glasses Up⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 70| CD

9/2

Five-time C&D winner. Twenty-one runs since last win in 2021. Respectable fourth of 14 in handicap at Musselburgh (12.5f, soft, 28/1) 8 days ago. Others make more appeal for win purposes this time.

Form: 4597-74

(4)

Sophiesticate¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: J S Goldie| OR: 69| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Ninth of 11 in handicap at this C&D (heavy, 20/1). Off 7 months and she's probably worth taking on. Engaged 3.10 Hamilton Sunday.

Form: 10079-4

Non-Runners

(10)

Busby⁷⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 8

T: P A Kirby J: Ryan Sexton

(8)

Great Colaci³

Weight: 8-7| Age: 10

T: G Boanas J: Amie Waugh

Forecasts

First Impression (10/3), Highwaygrey (4/1), Glasses Up (9/2), Sophiesticate (13/2), Morning Sun (15/2), Val Bassett (10/1), Zahee (12/1), Society Red (12/1), Busby (12/1), Snapius (16/1), Great Colaci (20/1)

The vote goes to MORNING SUN, who is by far the least exposed of these. The 4-y-o made an encouraging debut for this yard back from 8 months off at Redcar and while conditions were pretty testing that day, he appears to handle good/good to firm judged on what he showed for Sir Michael Stoute in 2022. Busby has yet to strike on turf but he's capable of a bold show, as he proved when going close over C&D last spring, and is feared most ahead of Highwaygrey and Society Red.