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Racecards

17:20 Ayr

Ortus Homes Racing Excellence 'Hands And Heels' Finale Handicap Hurdle (Conditional/Amateur) (Class 3)

  • 8 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 100y
  • Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £12,000 added
  • Winner: £7,798
  • 2nd: £2,290
  • 3rd: £1,145
  • 4th: £572
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 24.62s
  • Off Time: 17:20:20
  • 8 Ran
1
Silk - Pink, purple stars, purple sleeves, pink armlets, purple cap
  • Form 221255
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 128

led to 4th, chased leader, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace

2
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap

Alcala (FR)

35 ht D
6/5
  • Form 144613
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 127

tracked leader, led before 4th, took keen hold, headed last, kept on

3
Silk - Mauve and dark blue stripes, dark blue sleeves, mauve stars, dark blue cap, mauve star
  • Form 1118-94
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 126

tracked leaders and keen, mistake 3 out, weakened before last

4
Silk - Pink and Black hoops, Pink sleeves, hooped cap
  • Form U232/65
  • Age 12
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 124

behind, lost place after 4 out

5
Silk - Light Blue, White triple diamond, White and Yellow diabolo on sleeves, Light Blue and Yellow quartered cap

Amuse Me

170 D
12/1
  • Form 432111
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-6
  • Official Rating 122

held up in touch, pushed along after 4out, soon outpaced

6
Silk - Pink, large Purple spots, hooped sleeves
9/4
  • Form 1-241
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 120

held up towards rear, headway to go 2nd before 3 out, kept on same pace

8
Silk - Black and White diamonds, Emerald Green sleeves and cap
  • Form 431246
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 120

held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, led last, kept on well

9
Silk - Black and yellow (quartered), halved sleeves, yellow cap, black star
  • Form 463F2F
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-3
  • Official Rating 105

held up in touch, weakened before 2 out

7
NR
14/1
  • Form 2152/48
  • Age 12
  • Weight 10-13
  • Official Rating 115

NonRunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Paul Nicholls has won this twice in the last four years and three times since 2007 so Alcala has to go on the short-list, especially if Two Taffs gives the form of his Sandown third a boost in the previous race. But it's significant that Dan Skelton thinks that maiden winner OLDGRANGEWOOD is ready for a step up in grade and the five-year-old can record a second success at the track. Impulsive American has had a very busy first season over hurdles while Market Rasen specialist Oh Land Abloom prefers faster ground. Amuse Me hasn't raced since completing a hat-trick at Sedgefield in October but Knocklayde Sno Cat could go well off a low weight and is preferred to stable companion Now This Is It, fellow veteran Humbie and Nathans Pride.

Formwatch

Oh Land Abloom (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon hard driven, weakened approaching next, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind San Telm (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.

Alcala (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, driven between last two, kept on run-in, took 3rd post, nearest finish, 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Barney Dwan (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.

Nathans Pride (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 4th, chased leaders next, effort 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 9, 24l behind Karinga Dancer (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.

Now This Is It (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Close up, hit 5th and 8th, effort to press leaders 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 6, 19 3/4l behind Western Way (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.

Amuse Me 2-1fav (12-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out to chase leaders, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Perseid (11-4) by 6l, 10 ran.

Oldgrangewood 1-6fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, pressed next, driven 2 out, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Ayr 2m mdn (5) sft in Feb beating Craiganboy (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.

Impulsive American 8-1 (10-10) Held up well off the pace in rear, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went modest 4th run-in, dropped to 5th towards finish, 6th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Adrien Du Pont (11-12) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.

Knocklayde Sno Cat (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Soon tracked leaders, in 3rd when fell 3 out, at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.

Humbie (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up behind, badly hampered 5 out, not recover, never able to challenge, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Five In A Row (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.