Racecards
15:30 Ayr
Grant Burge Wines Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,300 added
Lugato (GER)
70- Form 420656
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J J Lambe
- Jockey Miss C V Annan
held up, driven and outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
- Form 64-866
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked clear leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on until no extra near finish
- Form 089795
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey C I Gillies
held up, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
- Form 92-5457
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
in touch, mistake 5 out, hit rail bend approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
- Form 40P655
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J W Farrelly
led, soon clear, headed 3 out, soon weakened
Solis (GER)
14- Form 8FP00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey J Halliday
held up, always behind
- Form 1/7038-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next
- Form 67613
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 100
held up, headway after 4 out, stayed on to lead approaching last, ridden out
- Form 088F72
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey R McGrath
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
Verdict
A Rare Diamond is sure to be popular with punters but we will take a chance and side with GIANT STAR as the pick. Jim Goldie does well with his runners at this venue and Giant Star does stand out. The ground will be very testing so this will be a real endurance test and our selection can take advantage of his light weight. He ran his best race yet here last time when he finished second behind Pinewood Legend and he can go one better today. A Rare Diamond is a real mudlark and she is sure to run her race, but she is proving difficult to win with and only makes limited appeal. High Stand Lad has been pulled-up on his two previous efforts on heavy ground so it is hard to be too enthusiastic about him today. Agglestone Rock has been in good form of late and he can prove best of the others, but Giant Star has plenty in his favour and he can take the prize.
Formwatch
Lugato (GER) 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway to 8th 4 out, ridden into 4th 3 out, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 34l behind Crerum (10-4) at Down Royal 2m cnd hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Quatro Pierji (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 16, 40l behind Steady Tiger (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Hurricane Jack 33-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 9, 28l behind Comhla Ri Coig (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Chief Scout 15-2 (11-3) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 14, 18l behind Ormus (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
A Rare Diamond (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and challenged 2 out, headed before last, no extra and kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 6l behind Johnee Joblot (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 0-95 hvy in Feb.
Solis (GER) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and beaten when blundered badly 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Ormus (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Breakwater House (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) In touch, headway 4 out, led approaching next, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 20, 9l behind Elite Land (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Agglestone Rock 9-4fav (9-11) Led and keen, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Loco Grande (10-4) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Giant Star (USA) 20-1 (10-4) Held up, headway and in touch approaching 3 out, chased winner next, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Pinewood Legend (10-9) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
High Stand Lad 8-1 (11-2) Held up behind, headway and in touch 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance the winner, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Well Disguised (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.