Racecards
17:15 Ayr
Norwich Union Hunters' Chase
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
Blyth Brook
23- Form 1P1PF-3
- Age 13
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer T Reed
- Jockey Mr R Morgan
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 1151UP
- Age 7
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer Miss M A Neill
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
mid-division, chased leaders 9th, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
- Form 2105-53
- Age 12
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey Mr R H Fowler
chased leaders, outpaced from 6 out
- Form 32211/2
- Age 13
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer W Amos
- Jockey Mr T Oates
tracked leaders, led 4th to 6th, hit 8th, blundered and outpaced 13th, rallied to chase winner approaching last, stayed on from last
- Form 13-P411
- Age 10
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Mr C J Callow
prominent when hit and unseated rider 10th
- Form 23F/12-6
- Age 9
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey Miss A Armitage
led to 1st, chased leaders, hit 11th, weakened from 12th
- Form 11PP/7-1
- Age 10
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Dave Parker
- Jockey Mr B Woodhouse
led to 4th, led again 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, clear next
- Form 6-22223
- Age 13
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C Storey
- Jockey Mr P Maitland-Carew
mid-division, pushed along and behind from 9th, pulled before 4 out, tailed off
Swiftway
23- Form 83/PP-11
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss J Fisher
- Jockey Mr W L Morgan
in touch, unseated rider 4th
- Form P-65536
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer William Goldie
- Jockey Mr W Goldie
always towards rear, hit 9th, in 6th and beat when fell last
In depth
Verdict
This looks a decent hunter chase and marginal preference is for Emperor Ross, who gets the vote ahead of Fiori and Star Jack. The last mentioned has not raced under rules for some time but showed all was well when landing a point-to-point on his return recently and the 10-year-old has to be respected. Chergan has been a good servant for Sue Bradburne and should be more at home over today's trip than the longer distances that he has tackled previously this term, while the13-year-old Coole Abbey can be guaranteed to run his usual good race. Swiftway is likely to find this tougher than the race that he won at Musselburgh last time and of more interest may be Pat Haslam's Fiori. The nine-year-old should improve for his reappearance effort at Bangor last month and holds solid claims on his old form. Emperor Ross could not have been more impressive at Sandown last time though and gets the vote to follow up.
Formwatch
Blyth Brook 12-1 Mid-division, headway to challenge approaching 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Swiftway at Musselburgh 3m hts chs (H) gf in Feb.
Bohemian Spirit (IRE) 7-1 In touch, mistake 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Gun'N Roses II at Haydock 2m 6f hts chs (H) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Chergan (IRE) 9-4 Tracked winner, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed next, every chance last, one pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Next To Nothing at Ayr 3m 1f hts chs (H) hvy in Feb.
Coole Abbey (IRE) 4-1 Led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Swiftway at Musselburgh 3m hts chs (H) gf in Feb.
Emperor Ross (IRE) 7-2 Held up in rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, challenged 3 out, led before last, kept on strongly run in, won at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (H) gd in Feb beating Satchmo by 7l, 14 ran.
Star Jack (FR) 4-1 won at Friars Haugh 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Dere Street by 3l, 11 ran.
Swiftway 14-1 Prominent, ridden and led 2 out, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 3m hts chs (H) gf in Feb beating Coole Abbey by 4l, 11 ran.