19:42 Ayr

Thursday 17 August 2023

All18:1218:4219:1219:4220:1220:42

Tennent's Lager Handicap

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 26.79s

(5)

Abduction¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: S A Gray| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| CD

8/1

C&D winner. 25/1, placed 3 times without winning this year but had no excuses when only twelfth of 15 in handicap at York (6f, good) 19 days ago. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 335500

(8)

Ascot Adventure^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| BF| D

9/2

Has worked his way back to form since joining this yard, again running well when third of 17 in handicap (9/2) at York (7f, good) 20 days ago. Respected with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 364323

(3)

Judgment Call⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 74| CD

9/4

C&D winner. 7/2, seen to maximum effect from the front when winning 10-runner handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f, good) 6 days ago, readily. Carries penalty. Shortlist material, though likely to face more competition for the lead this time.

Form: 145831

(2)

Barging Thru^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 78| D

18/1

Latest win at Chelmsford City in March. Seventh of 8 in handicap at Epsom (7f, good to firm, 11/1) 28 days ago. Seems a more reliable proposition on AW and others are preferred.

Form: 145537

(7)

Novak⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Archie Young⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 77| CD

9/1

3 wins from 9 runs this year. 7/2, improved again when completing hat-trick 9-runner handicap at this course (6f, firm) 54 days ago. Back up in trip. Progressing well recently and should give bold show in bid for 4-timer.

Form: 222111

(1)

Outrun The Storm¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74| C| D

7/2

Course winner. Notched first win of the year at Newmarket last month before running a respectable second of 9 in handicap there (7f, good to firm, 4/1) 13 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 4-08312

(6)

Alpine Sierra⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71| C

5/1

Course winner. Latest win here in June. Below form 8½ lengths sixth of 10 to Judgment Call in handicap (7/1) at Musselburgh (7.2f, good) 6 days ago. Not operating at his best at present and needs to bounce back.

Form: 152506

(4)

Maraakiz¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 70| D

125/1

Fair 7f winner for William Haggas but showed nothing after 2 years off when seventh of 8 in handicap (100/1) at this C&D (heavy) 17 days ago. Can't be fancied.

Form: 94430/7

Forecasts

Judgment Call (9/4), Outrun The Storm (7/2), Ascot Adventure (9/2), Alpine Sierra (5/1), Abduction (8/1), Novak (9/1), Barging Thru (18/1), Maraakiz (125/1)

NOVAK is in the form of his life and Iain Jardine's gelding is fancied to gain his fourth consecutive success after a 3 lb rise. Judgment Call had plenty go his way when winning at Musselburgh on Friday but can't be discounted under a penalty, whilst Ascot Adventure again ran well in a big-field York handicap last time and holds sound place claims.