Racecards
14:30 Ayr
Racing TV Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £3,050
- 2nd: £1,405
- 3rd: £702
- 4th: £352
- Form 4-32347
- Age 13
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D R Fox
chased leading pair, went 2nd at 5th until 5 out, chased leaders, pushed along and every chance on inside 3 out, stayed on
- Form 46-7832
- Age 7
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 8P87-25
- Age 8
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in last trio, pushed along after 5 out, struggling and beaten before next, tailed off
- Form 353444
- Age 11
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer W Young Jnr
- Jockey Sam Coltherd
led, jumped right 2nd, pushed along before 4 out, narrowly headed before 2 out, ridden and rallied gamely to lead again last, kept on strongly run-in, driven out
- Form 1-24627
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Oakley Brown
raced wide tracking leader, lost 2nd at 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again 5 out until hit next and weakened
Wheelbahri
12- Form 7F-4F3U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey Jamie Hamilton
held up in 5th, not fluent 5th, went close 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
Saltmarket
41- Form 3-9P9PF
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Miss L A Perratt
- Jockey Callum Bewley
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, behind after, mistake 6th, ridden and struggling after 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before the last,
Grey Tikkana
31- Form 808P-9P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer K Scott
- Jockey S Mulqueen
held up in last pair, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
In depth
Verdict
There is rarely a meeting goes by here without ARDERA CROSS (NAP) making an appearance. He seeks a fifth course victory and a 10th win over fences and, though not quite at his best recently, may be the one to beat again. Barnay is less exposed over the larger obstacles but has gone up 4lb for a narrow defeat at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Ettila De Sivola was a disappointing favourite at Hexham after a second at Kelso while Fourth Of July seems best at Kelso.
Formwatch
Vengeur De Guye (FR) 7-2 (11-13) Held up, headway to go 4th 2 out, soon outpaced by leaders and weakened quickly, 7th of 9, dist behind Treshnish (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Barnay 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, led again run in, idled and headed final strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Blueberry Wine (11-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Ettila De Sivola (FR) 10-3fav (11-11) Mid division, dropped to rear and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 29l behind Treshnish (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Ardera Cross (IRE) 16-5 (10-0) Led until jumped right and mistake 2nd, chased leader until 7th, pushed along from 10th, plugged on from 3 out, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Seemorelights (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Six One Nine (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent and pecked 11th, mistake 14th, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Rapid Raider (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Wheelbahri 5-1 (10-1) Mid-division, pecked 2nd, closed next, not fluent 5th, hit 6th and 7th, 4th and outpaced from 4 out, 7 lengths down still in 4th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Saltmarket 125-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and 3 lengths down when fell 2 out, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Grey Tikkana 150-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, pulled up 3 out, at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Fourth Of July (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Close up, pushed along before 4 out, gradually faded, 5th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Izzy's Champion (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.