15:40 Ayr

Monday 31 July 2023

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Book Scottish Sun Ladies Night Handicap

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 1m 34.50s

(5)

Kalganov^t⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78WS

28/1

Useful performer at best in France but not offered a great deal in handful of starts for present yard, well held seventh of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f) in June. Undergone wind surgery since and returns with yard amongst the winners, so one to monitor closely in the betting.

Form: 4340-77

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Irish Flame^p1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 76

28/1

Lightly-raced winner. 14 lengths last of 8 to Gainsbourg in handicap (10/1) at this course (8f, good) 7 days ago. Bounce back called for with cheekpieces now enlisted.

Form: 51-558

(7)

Maraakiz⁶⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 75| DWS

100/1

Fair 7f winner for William Haggas but absent since finishing well beaten last of 12 in a C&D handicap back in summer 2021. Undergone wind surgery ahead of belated return and likely best watched.

Form: 194430/

(2)

Gainsbourg^b⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: D Bourke| OR: 67| C

6/4

3-time winner for Ed Bethell and clearly revived by application of blinkers when opening his account for present yard over 1m here 7 days ago. Worth a second look under a penalty for all he's no banker to be in same form here.

Form: 6-88081

(4)

Classy Al^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71| BF| CD

7/2

C&D winner who returned to form when runner-up here on penultimate start (worried out of things late on) but proved disappointing when last of 11 in a C&D handicap latest, racing off the pace and always behind. Another needing to bounce back.

Form: 12-3820

(3)

Black Friday¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 68| C| D

4/1

Course winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2021. 18/1, bit below form ninth of 16 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 14 days ago, hampered. Back up in trip. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 276649

(1)

Burning The Bails^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 71

18/1

22/1, first run since leaving David & Nicola Barron when eighth of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, soft) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 3-63628

(9)

American Affair¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 68| D

7/2

Winner at Wetherby (7f) in May. 66/1, not disgraced tenth of 16 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 14 days ago, merely closing up late. Step back up in trip rates a plus and he remains less exposed than most.

Form: 651640

Non-Runners

(8)

Novak³⁷

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: William Pyle

Forecasts

Gainsbourg (6/4), Novak (2/1), American Affair (7/2), Classy Al (7/2), Black Friday (4/1), Burning The Bails (18/1), Kalganov (28/1), Irish Flame (28/1), Maraakiz (100/1)

NOVAK has gone from strength-to-strength in recent months, completing a hat-trick (all under this rider) over 6f here in June. With the return to 7f holding no fears he could well be up to completing the 4-timer. Fellow last-time-out winner Gainsbourg is a threat provided the blinkers prove as effective again. The Jim Goldie trained-pair Classy Al and American Affair are others in the mix.