13:00 Ayr

Monday 6 January 2025

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

Book Your Celebration At westernhousehotel.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 51.14s

Rob Roy Macgregor²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁶⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 94

11/2

Bumper winner and offered something to work on first 2 outings over hurdles in 2023/24. However, his form the wrong way and he was behind from early on the final circuit when last seen at Perth (20.2f, good to soft) 7 months ago. Handicapper given him a chance on return.

Form: 454P5-9

Toucan Sam^t,p⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 86WS

40/1

Modest maiden chaser who was placed twice 3 times in May but has lost his form since. Bounce back needed reverted to hurdles after 3 months off (has had a breathing operation).

Form: 23P9FP

Reagrove Lord^v,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Edward Austin| T: G Bewley| OR: 80

4/1

Poor maiden handicap hurdler who ran close to best in a first-time visor when third of 16 in at Hexham (23.3f, soft) last month, going with more fluency than has been the case. Player provided the headgear works just as well a second time.

Form: 533453

Boolamore Classic^v1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 79

5/2

Well held completed starts over hurdles and fared no better sent chasing at Newcastle last month. Quickly back over timber and needs a first-time visor to spark some major improvement.

Form: 48U-005

Blended Stealth^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 77

12/1

Long-standing maiden who went agonisingly close at Hexham in November. However, he ran a shocker at Sedgefield 6 days later and again ran poorly making a belated return to chasing last month. Visor reapplied and he's hiked back up in trip for a return to hurdling.

Form: 363299

Teddy Mac²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Doyle| T: I A Duncan| OR: 73

10/3

Still a maiden but he recorded a creditable fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Hexham (23.3f, soft) last month. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 45-5475

Ideal De Romay²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: P W Wadge| T: L Kerr| OR: 67

7/1

Irish point winner who is winless under Rules but shaped better than on yard debut when eighth of 9 at Carlisle in November, travelling well for a long way. Built on that returned to fences when runner-up at Newcastle (23.4f, good to soft) recently but he's 6 lb out the weights back hurdling.

Form: 456682

Non-Runners

Gold Ring²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: N Mechie J: William Maggs

You Say Its Over⁴¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Joshua Thompson

Forecasts

Boolamore Classic (5/2), Teddy Mac (10/3), Reagrove Lord (4/1), Rob Roy Macgregor (11/2), You Say Its Over (11/2), Ideal De Romay (7/1), Blended Stealth (12/1), Toucan Sam (40/1), Gold Ring (50/1)

ROB ROY MACGREGOR was out of sorts when last seen in the spring but, having been given a chance by the handicapper, Sandy Thomson's 7-y-o is afforded the tentative nod to open his account in this sphere. The main danger may emerge from Reagrove Lord, who ran close to best fitted in a first-time visor at Hexham last month and could well build on that here. Teddy Mac and Blended Stealth can fight out third.