Racecards
15:00 Ayr
Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Winner: £7,922
- 2nd: £3,645
- 3rd: £1,822
- 4th: £912
- Form 23/225-2
- Age 11
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B S Hughes
towards rear on outside, closed before 11th, lost place next, no impression after
- Form 142-29P
- Age 13
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Danny McMenamin
in touch in mid-division, lost place 8th, well beaten before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 4/133-35
- Age 11
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 124
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 6th, pushed along 10th, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
- Form U11-553
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Bruce Lynn
in rear, not fluent 11th, headway 4 out, went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led towards finish, headed close home
- Form 11-2134
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey Sam Coltherd
towards rear, headway before 11th, hit 4 out, outpaced 3 out, rallied into 4th last, no impression
- Form 8126-31
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey Ryan Mania
mid-division, headway 12th, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, no extra before last
High Moon
30- Form 118-732
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer R Menzies
- Jockey Nathan Moscrop
led 1st, not fluent 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on, headed towards finish, no extra close home
- Form 12P-345
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey S Mulqueen
led until not fluent 1st, chased leader until 6th, mistake 8th and 10th, not fluent 12th, close 3rd last, switched right flat, stayed on well, led close home
In depth
Verdict
Clan Legend made a promising reappearance over 3m here in November but has disappointed in both starts since and isn’t getting any younger. Calipso Collonges could benefit from a drop back in trip and Uncle Alastair has been unlucky not to have won so far over fences while Dubai Days travelled strongly for a long way last time at Newcastle but has never raced over a trip this far. Donna's Double beat HIGH MOON by more than three lengths here last time but the runner-up was having just his second start over fences that day and is 4lb better off so may well turn the tables. Grand Voyage is a previous course winner so can’t be ignored.
Formwatch
Uncle Alastair 9-2 (11-11) Towards rear, headway before 13th, went 5th after 5 out, pushed along and pressed leader before last, ridden run-in and no impression, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Morning Spirit (11-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Clan Legend 16-1 (11-12) Never closer than mid-division, behind and struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Calipso Collonges (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway home turn, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 12l behind Bangers And Cash (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Dubai Days (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) In rear, rapid headway 5 out to track leaders, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 9, 7 3/4l behind O'Toole (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Grand Voyage (FR) 10-3 (10-5) Held up, closed on leaders 4 out, every chance next, ridden after last, ran on but not pace of leaders near finish, 4th of 6, 3l behind Grandads Cottage (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Donna's Double 10-3 (11-11) Held up in touch, challenged 12th, led 2 out, stayed on, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating High Moon (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
High Moon 7-1 (11-12) Led 1st until 4th, led 11th, headed 2 out, held after, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Donna's Double (11-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Readysteadybeau (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 4th, mistake 10th, ridden and dropped to rear before 12th, tailed off approaching last, 5th of 9, 28 1/4l behind Bill Baxter (11-6) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.