Racecards
14:45 Ayr
Happy New Year From Ayr Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Form 14/F1P-9
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
chased leader, weakened 13th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form F441P-P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer B Storey
- Jockey G Berridge
in touch, lost place after 8th, pulled up before 9th
- Form 154UF2
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in rear, headway 12th, ridden in 3rd when hit last, soon weakened
- Form P56244
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
- Form 31-7076
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer I McMath
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leaders, weakened 2 out
- Form 1-39943
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer T Butt
- Jockey Mr M Ellwood
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish
In depth
Verdict
The Biker gets lumps of weight from Direct Answer and so is the pick, with Master Sebastian worth a mention at least. There is no doubting the fact that Direct Access has mixed it with good company over the years, but at the age of 12 there is not going to be any improvement to come surely. With that in mind, we intend taking him on with The Biker who made the odds-on favourite Coach Lane pull out all the stops in a novices' chase here recently. Timmy Murphy gave him a good ride that day and is on board again. The going will be slightly better as well, so in receipt of a stone-and-a-half from Direct Access, he is worth supporting. Master Sebastian is lightly-weighted and has past course-and-distance form so has to be given a mention, but preference is for The Biker on the strength of that solid effort last time.
Formwatch
Direct Access (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden outpaced 5 out, soon no impression, 9th of 11, 36l behind Neptune Collonges (11-9) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Do L'Enfant d'Eau (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced when mistake 9th, weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Transit (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
The Biker (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) In rear, tracked winner from 4th and not fluent, ridden and every chance last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Coach Lane (11-3) at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Master Sebastian 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, close up 7th, led 9th, headed after 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Another Promise (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Nifty Roy 14-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 7th of 17, 9l behind Magnificent Seven (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Lethem Air 12-1 (11-2) With leader, led 5th, headed 4 out, led briefly and hit 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Fearless Foursome (10-5) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.