16:20 Ayr

Tuesday 11 February 2025

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:55

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 6m 35.55s

Montys Soldier⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 98| BF| D

7/2

Lightly-raced maiden who showed glimmers of ability over hurdles. No surprise that this point winner took a big step forward switched to fences when runner-up at Ffos Las (23.8f, heavy) in November and he is open to further improvement in this sphere for new yard.

Form: 3/43-P42

Le Grand Vert^t,p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 97

7/2

Winner of Roscommon handicap chase on debut for Philip Dempsey last summer and also made a positive start for this yard when third of 8 at Down Royal (20.4f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Going back up in trip no bad thing but others look better treated.

Form: 4P23U3

Hold The Note^v,t⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 96| D

14/1

Step back in the right direction when third of 11 in a Carlisle handicap chase last spring but, commensurate with his patchy profile, he has failed to reproduce that level of form in 3 subsequent starts.

Form: PP3P-P4

Tory Hill⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: G Bewley| OR: 92

22/1

Runner-up all 4 completed starts in Irish points and while he hasn't shown much in 3 runs over hurdles, it wouldn't be the biggest of surprises were he to show himself in a better light now switched to fences.

Form: 2P2-058

The Jad Factor^t,p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 88

8/1

Fair hurdles winner who opened his account at the fifth attempt over fences when seeing off 8 rivals in this headgear combination at Newcastle (2½m, good to soft) last month. Remains on a good mark up 4 lb and he has to enter calculations.

Form: F3P2/41

Scalloway Bay^t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 86

13/2

Modest maiden over hurdles but holds his form well and made a decent start over fences when fourth here on his reappearance in November. Jumping let him down at Hexham next time but he could be a threat back up in trip here if getting his act together in that department.

Form: 3V45-49

Cowboy Cooper²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 85| D

9/1

Made the frame a few times over hurdles and has improved over fences, shedding maiden tag under a positive ride at Perth (23.8f, soft) last spring. Entitled to come on for his reappearance spin over timber here 22 days ago when catching the eye and he's one to consider.

Form: 763-214

Toucan Sam^t,p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 83

18/1

Modest maiden chaser who was placed 3 times in hunters/handicaps last May. Not disgraced both starts over hurdles since returning from a break/wind op in January but remains winless following 19 starts under Rules.

Form: P9FP35

Euchan Falls^v²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R M Smith| OR: 82| C

14/1

Several good efforts in defeat last season but some way below his best in a handful of runs since returning to action in November and others make more appeal.

Form: 2985P6

Eveque^p1¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 80

50/1

Finally off the mark when landing a 27f Sedgefield handicap chase last January. Now just 1 lb above that winning mark but with good reason (well held all 4 starts since) and hopes pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking a return to form.

Form: 2150-78

Wotsmyname²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: L Kerr| OR: 75

12/1

Produced one of his best efforts to date when beaten 1¼ lengths into third behind The Jad Factor at Newcastle last month, leaving the impression that this step back up in trip would be a good move. Place possibilities.

Form: 86/P993

Bowler Jack⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 73

18/1

Little worthwhile form in bumpers/over hurdles and needs to leave that form well behind now tackling the larger obstacles.

Form: 075P-7P

Ideal De Romay²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: L Kerr| OR: 67| D

12/1

Irish point winner who is winless under Rules and while he shaped as though he may soon put that right when second at Newcastle in December, his 2 subsequent efforts have not been so good. 5 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

Form: 6682P5

Non-Runners

Don Brocco⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: Gary Rutherford J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Le Grand Vert (7/2), Don Brocco (7/2), Montys Soldier (7/2), Scalloway Bay (13/2), The Jad Factor (8/1), Cowboy Cooper (9/1), Wotsmyname (12/1), Ideal De Romay (12/1), Euchan Falls (14/1), Hold The Note (14/1), Bowler Jack (18/1), Toucan Sam (18/1), Tory Hill (22/1), Eveque (50/1)

COWBOY COOPER was much better than the bare result on return over hurdles here and, with that run under his belt and this step back up in trip a plus, he is taken to resume winning ways. Montys Soldier shaped well on his chase debut and can make his presence felt along with Newcastle winner The Jad Factor.