Racecards
16:55 Ayr
Jim Smith Retirement Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 261013
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out to chase leaders, effort 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
- Form 20-4254
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey A Ross
held up in touch, headway to lead 3 out, ridden out
- Form 500
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer F Murtagh
- Jockey C McCormack
mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced next
- Form 30-3032
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out to chase leaders, effort 2 out, every chance flat, no extra towards finish
- Form PP-5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer Mrs L Normile
- Jockey M Bradburne
led, headed 2nd, left in lead 4th, headed after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 004313
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, stayed on to have every chance flat, kept on
- Form P0F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
raced keen towards rear, headway approaching 3 out to chase leaders, outpaced before next
Iranoo (IRE)
17- Form 0625/00
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Allan
- Jockey N Mulholland
always behind
- Form 5540P-0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Dodds
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leader, led 2nd, mistake and unseated rider 4th
In depth
Verdict
Nicky Richards has his team of hurdlers in fine form and so Celebration Town will be expected to make a bold bid to get the losses back, with the likes of Jolika, Powder Creek and For Your Ears Only out to stop him. Celebration Town developed an aversion to starting stalls on the Flat and took time to get the hang of the jumping game when sent to Greystoke, but he is getting better all the time and has now gained two wins, at Hexham and more recently Haydock where he showed much improved form. He was in the process of defying a 10lb rise in the weights when clouting the third last on a return visit to Haydock, and although not certain to have won at the time, he would have gone a lot closer. Celebration Town must go close here, but there are plenty of other possibles if he under performs, including fellow topweight Powder Creek who seems to be on the upgrade and will like the faster ground. Jolika finished tired when scoring over half a mile further here last month and should go well along with For Your Ears Only, second to the in-form Cordilla in testing ground at Carlisle. There is not much in it but Celebration Town gets a narrow vote.