Racecards
13:05 Ayr
Findlays Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form P5/116-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
not fluent, towards rear, blundered 5th, headway to go 2nd at 12th, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 31/76-1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch, headway 9th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 25/3-37F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey K Renwick
chased leaders, mistake 10th and 11th, weakened after next
- Form 483P/7-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey T J Dreaper
in rear, blundered 8th, struggling badly from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 01-2312
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 98
tracked leaders, led 12th, hit next, clear approaching 2 out, eased towards finish
- Form 1P4/524
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
chased leader, pecked 10th, jumped left 12th, weakened from 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2/1337-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D McGann
led, jumped right and headed 12th, soon weakened
- Form 2523-31
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey B P Harding
tracked leaders, reminders after 9th, weakened from next, pulled up before 13th
In depth
Verdict
Theatre Knight gets the narrow vote here with Brandy Wine and Algarve put forward as the main dangers. The selection was returning from a long absence when beating Rare Society at Sedgefield last time. That was over 2m5f and he relished every yard of the trip that day. He will therefore be suited by this step-up in distance and providing he doesn't bounce then he should take plenty of beating. Brandy Wine is certainly capable of winning races over fences and he put up a decent effort last time when finishing second behind Ebony Light over 3m6f at Bangor. He looks an out-and-out stayer so this drop in trip may not play to his strengths and for that reason we will taken him on. Algarve was a little disappointing last time but that was over a shorter trip than this and he will be more at home racing over today's distance. See You There was returning from a break when finishing second behind Model Son at Carlisle and he remains lightly-raced so is another to consider. However, for the winner we are happy to return to Theatre Knight.
Formwatch
See You There (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 19l behind Model Son (11-1) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (C) hvy in Oct.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) In touch, jumped slowly and outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on under pressure flat to lead near finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) gs in Nov beating Rare Society (11-6) by a shd, 14 ran.
Kharak (FR) 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leader, challenged 5 out, led next, one length up when fell 2 out in race won by Nocatee (10-7) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (E) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Sir Rowland Hill (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nocatee (10-7) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (E) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Brandy Wine (IRE) 9-4fav (10-4) Mid-division, headway 13th, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Ebony Light (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec.
Algarve 2-1fav (10-5) Tracked leader until approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 10, 27l behind Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
Trovaio (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) In touch to halfway, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Precious Bane (10-4) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Fountain Brig 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, left in lead next, stayed on, won at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec beating Mikasa (10-0) by 2l, 13 ran.