Racecards
16:30 Ayr
Dalziel Conservatories Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 15-1552
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up, tracked leaders 7th, smooth headway to lead approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed and no extra after last
- Form 2493
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D J Oakden
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out
- Form 7-68816
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D W Whillans
- Jockey P Buchanan
led, headed 3rd, stayed in touch until weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2-37P25
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
behind, headway and in touch 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, challenged, kept on to lead after last
- Form P3-P199
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 103
prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 556
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Mrs J C McGregor
- Jockey K Mercer
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
In depth
Verdict
This looks a straight-forward task for Kealshore Lad to get his head back in front, with Mr Preacher Man the likeliest one to chase him home. Donald McCain has his stable in decent form at the moment and only beaten a short-head last time out, under more patient tactics from jockey Steven Craine the six-year-old gelding should take all the beating. Mr Preacher Man's fourth behind Skippers Brig back in December reads very well in the context of this race and whilst he hasn't got his head in front since that promising run, he should go close today with his jockey's bumper claim of 10lbs. He handles the ground well, as does Em's Royalty who won well on similar ground over course and distance three runs ago. Disappointing since, she would need to bounce back to feature today. Allegedly So will need to forget a below par run last time out but should do better now upped in trip again, whilst Clemax has place claims as well. Ultimately this looks fairly straightforward for Kealshore Lad to get his head back in front.
Formwatch
Kealshore Lad 4-1 (9-12) Close up, led 3 out, clear last, headed post, 2nd of 11, shd behind Camden Bella (9-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Mr Preacher Man 9-1 (11-3) Mid-division, effort 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 17, 10l behind Double Eagle (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Allegedly So (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, outpaced after 3 out, some late headway, 6th of 17, 26l behind Double Eagle (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Clemax (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 8th, outpaced approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 13, 22l behind Allegedly So (10-12) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Em's Royalty 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division ridden and weakened 10th, 9th of 15, well behind Top Cloud (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Vicious Prince (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always behind, 6th of 10, well behind Chief Dan George (11-5) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Countrywide Sun 50-1 (11-4) Always behind, blundered 3rd, weakened from 6th, 12th of 16, well behind Pee Jay's Dream (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.