Racecards
15:55 Ayr
Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 0-17213
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey J Halliday
tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake 6th, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat
- Form 335440
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden and rallied 2 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no impression
- Form 221F2F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer C A McBratney
- Jockey B P Harding
led, mistake and headed 3rd, with leader, hit next and 5th, ridden to lead again before last, stayed on well
- Form 00-8625
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, no extra approaching last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Once again a small field and not the easiest puzzle to solve. NELSON DU RONCERAY is narrowly preferred to the errant jumper Selection Box. Peter Monteith has a decent record at the track and his course and distance winner comes here in better form than his rivals. His third behind the cunningly-ridden Best Prospect at Newcastle last time was a good effort in defeat and returned to his favoured track he is fancied to defy top-weight. Selection Box was well-fancied last time at Downpatrick but his jumping once again let him down as he fell for the second time in three starts. He could be well-treated off this mark of 121 if putting it all together, however that is all guesswork as he has a 15lb higher mark on these shores. Dancer's Serenade is yet to flourish in two chase starts and indeed was sent back hurdling last time. He is not the biggest and it might just be that connections are running out of options for this formerly smart (but not greatly handicapped) flat horse. Ormello completes the line-up but Lucinda Russell's son of Cyborg has run his best races on quicker ground so whilst this is a drop in grade, it is unlikely that he will be seen to his best. Nelson Du Ronceray is selected.
Formwatch
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 3rd, led 2 out, ridden and headed after last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Best Prospect (11-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Ormello (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 6th 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind L'ami (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs hvy in Feb.
Selection Box (IRE) 11-2fav (10-10) Mid-division when fell in race won by Ballytrim (11-4) at Downpatrick 3m 4f hcp chs 0-123 gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Dancer's Serenade (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in touch and keen, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, 28l behind Carrickboy (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.