14:20 Ayr

Friday 19 April 2024

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:3017:00

Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 6m 21.88s

Wonderwall^p⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 125

40/1

Useful bumper/hurdle winner for Richard Spencer. Not disgraced when fourth in Cheltenham novice handicap on his chase debut in November but has failed to complete on last couple of hurdling outings.

Form: F/30-4BP

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Castle Rushen^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 123| C

20/1

Didn't take to chasing last season but ended campaign with pair of creditable placed efforts back over hurdles and got back on track (with a run behind him) when fifth at Uttoxeter last time. Should be spot on now and return to this trip likely to help.

Form: U423-75

Mt Fugi Park²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123| D

10/1

Cost £290,000 after making a successful debut in the Irish pointing field last February and looked a useful prospect in winning his first 2 starts over hurdles 3 months apart. Back on track when a staying-on fourth to Zain Nights (won again since) at Newbury a month ago and more to come.

Form: 1-11P4

War Soldier⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| BF

40/1

Proved as good as ever to notch a first win in handicap company in 11-runner event at Wetherby in February but completely failed to back it up there 50 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 037-419

Whistle Stop Tour⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 122| C| D

12/1

Winning Irish pointer who made a successful start over hurdles in a Hexham novice in October and got firmly back on the up when landing a similar event at this course 41 days ago. One to note back in handicap company.

Form: 1-13441

Scipion^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 121| D

40/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, 12½ lengths fourth of 10 to Shoeshine Boy in handicap hurdle (80/1) at Kelso (25.8f, soft) 40 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Should trip fitter for that and he's well treated on his very best hurdling efforts.

Form: 2-545P4

Brandy Mcqueen^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 119| D

66/1

Progressive staying hurdler in 2022/23 (4 wins) who made a winning start over fences by a wide margin at this track in October. Hasn't kicked on since and now returns to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 6-137P4

Ten Lengths Tom⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 118

7/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Very good second of 8 in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, heavy, 5/4) 56 days ago. More to come now handicapping up in trip, so merits plenty of respect.

Form: 21-612

Hashtag Boum³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 117| D

28/1

Latest win in hurdle at Market Rasen in February. Creditable fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle (5/1) at Haydock (24.3f, soft) 30 days ago. Not discounted for all that others look better treated.

Form: 1-62214

Taras Halls¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| BF

28/1

Bumper winner for Lucy Wadham but form for this yard has been in and out. Respectable second in a novice at Market Rasen last time but others make more appeal.

Form: F72202

Herakles Westwood¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: W Greatrex| OR: 113

20/1

Firmly on the up when racking up a handicap hurdle hat-trick this winter. Has remained in form since while leaving the impression that the handicapper might have his measure now.

Form: 711144

Call Me Harry¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine| OR: 109| D

66/1

Goes well at this track (C&D scorer in November). Pulled up at Musselburgh last time but that was too bad to be true and he might be back on his game.

Form: 21U24P

One Eye On Vegas^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 108| BF

12/1

Improved since fitting with cheekpieces, winning handicaps at Leicester and Hereford in January/February. Progressed again when third in a higher grade at Uttoxeter since. Looks sure to give another good account.

Form: 775113

Catch Him Derry⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107| BF| D

5/6

Justified good support to make a successful handicap debut at Southwell (24.2f) in January, then pulled a long way clear with thrown-in stablemate (who has scored readily on both subsequent outings) at Bangor 51 days ago. Likely still well ahead of mark and will take all the beating.

Form: 63312

Shoeshine Boy^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 107| CD

10/1

Tongue tied and got off the mark for the season in 13-runner handicap over C&D in February. Followed up from a 3 lb higher mark at Kelso but had nothing to spare and seemed undone by a rise at Haydock next time.

Form: 224115

Phil De Pail^b,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103

28/1

Fair bumper performer and similar form over hurdles. Better than result both starts this term and tongue tie goes back on, so not completely discounted in a race that should his style.

Form: 2P23/35

Non-Runners

Barbados Buck's⁴⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 9

T: D Bourke J: William Maggs

Forecasts

Catch Him Derry (5/6), Ten Lengths Tom (7/1), Shoeshine Boy (10/1), Mt Fugi Park (10/1), Whistle Stop Tour (12/1), One Eye On Vegas (12/1), Herakles Westwood (20/1), Castle Rushen (20/1), Barbados Buck's (25/1), Hashtag Boum (28/1), Taras Halls (28/1), Phil De Pail (28/1), Wonderwall (40/1), Scipion (40/1), War Soldier (40/1), Brandy Mcqueen (66/1), Call Me Harry (66/1)

CATCH HIM DERRY made a winning handicap debut before coming well clear with Gwennie May Boy (who scored easily on both subsequent starts, including a valuable prize at Aintree), so he looks well in off 5 lb higher and should get back to winning ways. Ten Lengths Tom is a likely improver up in trip for handicap debut and Mt Fugi Park is also a danger.