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Racecards

14:30 Ayr

Ronnie MacPherson Birthday Handicap Chase (Class C)

  • 4 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 1f
  • Going: Soft
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 36.50s
  • 4 Ran
1
Silk -
1
Silk - LIGHT GREEN and RED check, RED sleeves, LIGHT GREEN armlets, LIGHT GREEN cap
  • Form 4/04PP-P
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-12

held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, two lengths 2nd when hampered last, not recover

2
Silk - RED, WHITE hoop, WHITE, RED spots on sleeves and cap
2/1
  • Form 23F21-3
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-8

tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, hit next, five lengths 3rd approaching last, left clear flat

3
Silk - MAROON, WHITE seams, diabolo on sleeves, WHITE cap
  • Form 0302PP-
  • Age 10
  • Weight 10-13

held up in touch, effort 13th, ridden 4 out, one pace approaching last, held when left 2nd flat

4
Silk - Maroon, Dark Green chevrons, Maroon sleeves and cap
  • Form 12132-3
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-7

led, mistakes 1st and 12th, ridden 3out, two lengths clear when mistake and fell last

In depth

Verdict

Just the four runners but an interesting contest. Ballinclay King was a high-class novice hurdler who won the Grade 1 Martell Maghull Novices' Hurdle in 2001, having shown himself to be a very good novice chaser the year before. He has not fared so well in handicap chases since but reverts to chasing following a return for the season over hurdles. Ryalux ran a blinder to finish third in the skybet.com Gold Cup at Kempton and is a worthy favourite for this race, and he gets the TEAMtalk vote. Kit Smartie failed to progress after a very good second in the Great Yorkshire Chase but a return to that form would see him in with a shout. Kerry Lads has risen in the weights as a consequence of a couple of wins, is generally consistent but the selection is favoured.