Racecards
14:25 Ayr
Mary Queen Of Scots Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Form 127-121
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
jumped well, led 11th, shaken up from 3 out, kept on well
- Form 99-5511
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
tracked leader, ridden 11th, hit 4 out, soon no chance with winner
- Form 1312/33-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer B Mactaggart
- Jockey R McGrath
tracked leader, mistake 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 10th
- Form FPF212
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey M H Naughton
led, headed 11th, soon ridden, beaten when hit 3 out
- Form P-32426
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs S Bradburne
- Jockey G Lee
tracked leader, ridden approaching 10th, kept on from 3 out
- Form 3-5P5P4
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer A Whillans
- Jockey K Renwick
held up in touch, ridden 11th, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
This is maybe not as competitive an event as it appears at first glance and should go to Lord Jack. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding has made steady progress since being switched to fences this season, displaying his best form to-date when beating Supreme Fortune by one-and-a-half lengths under testing conditions at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Admittedly the winner had to be hard driven to oblige there but, with more improvement to come, the son of Mister Lord should be good enough to follow up off just a 3lb higher mark. Len Lungo's The Rile probably did not beat much when making a winning chase debut here over the extended 2m5f trip on his most recent start but looks to have been given his fair share of weight by the handicapper. Buck's Palace is back to a winning mark and cannot be dismissed lightly although his recent form has been disappointing. Lauderdale has been raised a further 2lbs for his second to Poly Amanshaa over two miles last month and may not appreciate the step up in trip either. Gayles And Showers has a poor strike-rate and cannot be backed with any confidence, while San Francisco does not look good enough despite weight and ground conditions being in his favour.