16:50 Ayr

Monday 31 July 2023

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

Western House Hotel Handicap

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 1m 47.54s

(4)

Pretty Bouquet^v1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 65

66/1

Maiden winner for Keith Dalgleish last year but has struggled in handicaps for current yard in 2023. Remains to be seen whether a change of headgear (first-time visor for cheekpieces) makes any difference.

Form: 145-789

(3)

Can't Stop Now^h¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 63

12/1

Flat winner in the autumn. Also successful over hurdles at Musselburgh in March but absent since pulling up there later that month.

Form: 90321-4

(12)

Bulls Aye^b,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 63

12/1

Unreliable sort. Latest win at Carlisle in June. Not at best on next 2 starts but back on song when third of 12 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f, good, 10/1) 26 days ago. Yard in form.

Form: 721563

(9)

Fifty Sent¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 62

3/1

Winner at Newcastle (1¼m) in May. 11/2, good third of 10 in handicap at Beverley (1¼m, good to soft) 13 days ago. Back down in trip. Respected.

Form: 2-31233

(2)

Ayr Poet^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 60| BF| CD

3/1

C&D winner. Creditable second of 8 in handicap over C&D (good) 7 days ago. Likely to be in the thick of things again.

Form: 30-6522

(7)

Golden Valour^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: R M Smith| OR: 58

13/2

Temperamental sort. Twenty five runs since last win in 2020. 9/2, creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at this course (1¼m, good) 14 days ago, doing well considering he was badly hampered in the final 1f.

Form: 4-76725

(1)

Yeeeaah²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 56

8/1

Remains a maiden after 17 Flat runs but he did run well for second at Musselburgh (8f, good to firm) 28 days ago.

Form: 334-592

(8)

Rogue Force¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 56| D

50/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 66/1, ninth of 12 in handicap at this C&D (good) 14 days ago.

Form: 466899

(10)

Chinese Spirit¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 54| CD

11/1

C&D winner. Fourteen runs since last win in 2022 but has been runner-up on 4 of his last 5 starts, including over C&D last time. Another who has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 922272

(6)

Camacho Star¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 58| D

9/1

Winner at Redcar (1m, heavy) in April and went in again at Catterick (7f, good to firm) 19 days ago, coming clear with one who won the other day. 4 lb rise looks more than fair.

Form: 3-21271

(14)

Retirement Beckons¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 50| CD

33/1

Three-time C&D winner, the latest in June. 33/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at this course (7f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: 751977

(13)

Hollis Brown¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 45

28/1

Modest maiden. 40/1, creditable sixth of 12 in C&D handicap (good) 14 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 30-7766

(11)

Two Rivers^t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 51

28/1

Unreliable type. Seventh of 11 in handicap (20/1) at Hamilton (13f, good) 10 days ago. Significantly back down in trip. Stable in form but others are more obvious.

Form: 94-9707

Non-Runners

(5)

Yorkstone¹⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: M & D Easterby J: S A Gray

Forecasts

Ayr Poet (3/1), Fifty Sent (3/1), Golden Valour (13/2), Yeeeaah (8/1), Camacho Star (9/1), Yorkstone (10/1), Chinese Spirit (11/1), Bulls Aye (12/1), Can't Stop Now (12/1), Two Rivers (28/1), Hollis Brown (28/1), Retirement Beckons (33/1), Rogue Force (50/1), Pretty Bouquet (66/1)

CAMACHO STAR had the form of his latest Catterick win boosted when the runner-up won last week and he can make light of a 4 lb rise. Ayr Poet, Chinese Spirit and Fifty Sent head the many possible dangers.