Racecards
14:15 Ayr
Ashleybank Investment Future Champion Novices' Chase (Grd 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form F21312
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey R Garritty
held up, hit 6th, outpaced from 5 out
- Form 21113P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
chased leaders, pushed along 8th, outpaced next, stayed on from 4 out, no impression
- Form 27-171F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
made all, keen and soon clear, ridden and under pressure 3 out, ran on gamely run-in, all out
My Will (FR)
32- Form 132115
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
chased leaders, hit 6 out, mistake 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, challenged when hit 2 out, every chance run-in, held towards finish
- Form 4FF101
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased winner, ridden and every chance 3 out, no extra run-in
- Form 213484
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in rear and pushed along, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 9th, ridden and outpaced from 12th
In depth
Verdict
My Will has the potential to be a top class chaser, and is preferred to the likes of Fool On The Hill, Made In Japan and Flight Command. My Will was impressive during both of his first two victories over fences, and has shaped well in top company since then. He kept on well enough when fifth in the Arkle at Cheltenham and will be more at home back over this longer trip today. Trainer Paul Nichols has won this twice in the past three years with Valley Henry and Vol Solitaire, and any rain would increase his chances. Fool On The Hill did not impress with his jumping at Newbury last time but he still won easily and makes slightly more appeal than Philip Hobbs' other runner Made In Japan. The former Triumph Hurdle winner finished behind My Will in the Arkle and his recent Aintree effort may have left its mark. Flight Command has a bit to find on form but has got his act together and ran well under a big weight when second at Towcester on his return from a 10-week break. Locksmith was a beaten horse when falling two out at Wincanton and is hard to fancy despite his earlier all-the-way Doncaster victory. My Will has more going for him and is the one to be on.
Formwatch
Flight Command 5-2 Chased leaders, hampered and left 2nd 10th, every chance 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Charlies Future at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Mar.
Vandas Choice (IRE) 6-1 Held up behind, pushed along and reminders after 9th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Ollie Magern at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Locksmith 2-1jt-fav Led and not fluent throughout, soon clear, ridden after 9th, headed approaching 3 out, beaten when fell 2 out in race won by Kadount at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
My Will (FR) 12-1 Mid-division, ridden and headway when hit 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 19, 7l behind Contraband at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Fool On The Hill 8-1 Held up, headway after 10th, blundered badly and hampered next, led 3 out, clear approaching last, eased run-in, won at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs beating Powder Creek by 6l, 9 ran.
Made In Japan (JPN) 20-1 Chased leaders until ridden and lost place 4 out, no danger after, 4th of 10, 33l behind Ashley Brook at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs.