16:30 Ayr

Tuesday 13 February 2024

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:04

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 6m 50.51s

Camp Belan^b⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 104| BF

17/2

Thorough stayer who gained his sole success to date at Kelso in November 2022. Rather-in-and out since but he put in a decent shift when third in first-time blinkers (retained) back at that venue latest and is lurking on a potentially handy mark.

Form: 35-4433

Deep Charm³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 104| D

11/2

Going through a good spell at present, bagging handicaps at Sedgefield and Market Rasen prior to a near miss when bidding for the hat-trick at Kelso (21.6f, heavy). Raised 4 lb for that but this step back up in trip looks a good move and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: PF-P112

Skyhill^t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 101| CD

22/1

Veteran who ended last season on a winning note and stepped up on his reappearance third when getting the better of subsequent scorer Event of Sivola at Catterick (25.2f, heavy) on New Year's Day. However, he failed to fire off this mark last time and needs to bounce back.

Form: 451-315

Gipsy Lee Rose^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 87| D

12/1

Capitalised on a career-low mark when scoring by a whisker at Kelso in November with Camp Belan (now 5 lb better off for a 5½-length beating) back in third. Her record is rather patchy, though, and she wasn't in the same form next time.

Form: 38-5315

Artic Breeze^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 85| BF| D

8/1

Showed little in 6 hurdle starts for Laura Morgan but was an Irish point winner earlier in his career and duly made much more of an impact when second at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) on return/chase debut on Boxing Day. Possibilities if able to build on that here.

Form: 66P2P-2

Heritier De Sivola^p1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 82

13/2

Maiden Irish pointer who made all in a novice handicap hurdle at Kelso in December 2022. However, he hasn't pulled up any trees in 3 starts switched to fences this season and hopes now pinned on the addition of cheekpieces working the oracle.

Form: 27-8P05

Baron Briggs⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 82| BF

10/3

Better efforts since undergoing a wind op, finishing third in handicaps at Kelso (17f) and Musselburgh (20.3f) the last twice. This lightly-raced 7-y-o remains unexposed over fences (and as a stayer) and is one to consider.

Form: 3/033-33

Cowboy Cooper³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 79

10/3

Remains winless following 10 attempts overall but he made a positive start in this sphere when third in an 11-runner handicap at Catterick (25.2f, soft) last month. Needs considering off an unchanged mark.

Form: 546-333

Goodoldbill³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 77| BF| D

14/1

Sprang a surprise when winning an 8-runner handicap at Newcastle (23.4f, good to soft) on second start over fences in November. Failed to repeat that at the same course next time, though, and others look more solid.

Form: 6P6-P14

Non-Runners

Post Chaise³³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Henry Brooke

Sigurd²⁰

Weight: 10-3| Age: 12

T: Miss J E Foster J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Baron Briggs (10/3), Cowboy Cooper (10/3), Deep Charm (11/2), Heritier De Sivola (13/2), Post Chaise (7/1), Artic Breeze (8/1), Camp Belan (17/2), Gipsy Lee Rose (12/1), Goodoldbill (14/1), Sigurd (20/1), Skyhill (22/1)

Several to consider in this competitive handicap with POST CHAISE taken to defy top-weight. The form of his latest start in this sphere looks solid and he has subsequently performed with credit over hurdles. Deep Charm's jumping hasn't always been foot-perfect but he's hard to knock judged on recent form and is feared most. Cowboy Cooper is also respected, along with Baron Briggs and Camp Belan.