Racecards
17:05 Ayr
Vince Badger Tovey Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m 5f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,200 added
- Form 9-24570
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
led until blundered badly, stumbled 1st, not recover, soon pulled up
- Form 30-4055
- Age 11
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J R Weymes
- Jockey K Mercer
held up on outside, outpaced 12th, rallied 14th, weakened from next
Dickie Lewis
21- Form 1121-P2
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Benson
left in lead 1st, made most to 14th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 0P6337
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer A Crook
- Jockey D C Costello
chased leaders, outpaced when hit 13th, weakened from next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form PP-74P6
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Miss S E Forster
- Jockey B P Harding
with leader, led 14th, drew clear from 3 out, stayed on well
- Form U12U3-P
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Miss V Simpson
- Jockey Harry Haynes
in touch, outpaced 16th, soon struggling, no danger
In depth
Verdict
DICKIE LEWIS is nominated here ahead of top-weight Lucky Nellerie. Donald McCain's gelding was second behind Phardessa last time out at Uttoxeter. That was a good effort as he returned from a break, and with the ground holding no fears (won on heavy at Newcastle in April) a big run is expected. Lucky Nellerie ran over a marathon trip last time at Doncaster and is expected to fare better today over a slightly shorter trip. He handles soft ground and has now been dropped to a mark of 109 which looks pretty fair. Matmata De Tendron has proven stamina for this trip but was a tad disappointing last time out, so a bigger danger may be course winner Skenfirth. He races from one pound out of the handicap but he has a good win off a mark of 82 from last year at Kelso in similar ground and is not to be underestimated. Dickie Lewis is given the tentative vote.
Formwatch
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 10-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 19, well behind Jass (10-9) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Another Rum (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Close up, led 12th, not fluent and headed 15th, weakened next, 5th of 7, well behind Fair Question (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb.
Dickie Lewis 11-2 (10-10) In touch, challenging 11th, ridden 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Phardessa (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 10-1 (9-12) Prominent, reminders 11th, driven and weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, 43l behind Overlady (9-12) at Carlisle 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Skenfrith 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place after 8th, 6th of 10, 32l behind Panama At Once (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Jacksonville (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, reminders 6th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Mitchel Henry (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.