Racecards
16:20 Ayr
Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 6-10343
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 111
in touch, led 6th, blundered 4 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner
- Form P3-0472
- Age 12
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey G Lee
led to 6th, chased leader, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well
- Form P3113-3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
chased leader, outpaced from 1 out
- Form 2145R3
- Age 11
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 102
held up, chased leaders 5 out, one pace from 3 out
- Form 81B3PF-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey B P Harding
chased leaders, ridden 6th out, soon weakened
- Form FP-5U3U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 95
always towards rear, weakened from 5th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 4763P2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey P Kinsella
chased leaders, hit 4th, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 4 out
In depth
Verdict
The jumping of Yvanovitch and Longdale is a real cause for concern and so we will side with Brave Thought, with Oliverjohn a live danger. The selection runs off a mark of 106 today, 7lbs off his highest winning one, and with that in mind he must have very solid claims. He is not getting any younger at 12, however he is a course and distance winner and had Oliverjohn behind him when finishing second last time out. The last-named is also a course and distance winner but looks on a stiff enough mark now after two wins in January. King Of The Arctic is pretty consistent so should run his race, whilst Perfect Punch has a very capable jockey aboard and is entitled to go close, although a record of one win in 32 starts says it all really. Longdale is returning from over a year off but if his jumping has improved then he would go very close indeed, however that is a risk possibly not worth taking so we will play safe and return to Brave Thought as our tentative selection.
Formwatch
King Of The Arctic (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, beaten from 11th, 3rd of 7, 30l behind Snowy (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Brave Thought (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Led, headed 4 out, ridden and no extra, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Marshall Hall (11-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Oliverjohn (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, lost place 7th, soon beaten, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Marshall Hall (11-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Stormy Beech 13-2 (10-1) In touch, challenged 3 out, every chance next, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Flake (11-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Longdale 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4th, 3 lengths down in 4th and going well when fell 3 out in race won by Hollows Mill (11-4) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar '06, 7 ran.
Yvanovitch (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Behind, blundered 8th, baldy hampered and brought down 5 out in race won by Ton-Chee (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Perfect Punch 16-1 (10-10) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on well to take 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Marshall Hall (11-8) at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft.