Racecards
15:20 Ayr
Merry Christmas From Ayr Racecourse Open Maiden NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,178
- 2nd: £1,004
- 3rd: £502
- 4th: £251
Ayiko
191- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer S R B Crawford
- Jockey D A Jacob
in touch towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
Cushendun
46- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer I A Duncan
- Jockey B S Hughes
close up, ridden and slightly outpaced 2f out, kept on final furlong
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
raced wide, close up, tracked leader 10f out, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ewan Whillans
- Jockey Craig Nichol
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer H Graham & G Rutherford
- Jockey Nathan Moscrop
disputed lead 4f, tracked leaders, weakened 4f out, tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
in touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
- Form 531-3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Roisin Leech
disputed leader until led 12f out, ridden 3 lengths clear over 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Ayiko was second to a subsequent winning hurdler at Roscommon in June though may meet his match in JUNKER D‘ALLIER. Olly Murphy‘s charge started a short-priced favourite here last month but was beaten a nose and can go one better. Cushendun was not far behind in third and will also improve while Malicash travelled well for a long way at Kelso before fading in the closing stages. Josie Alice led for a long way at Bangor on Friday and was only headed at the furlong pole. Young Getaway has a smart pedigree and is one to note in the market.
Formwatch
Ayiko 10-3 (11-5) Tracked leaders and 4th from halfway, dropped to 6th from 5f out, ridden from 2f out and soon went 4th, kept on well into 2nd inside final furlong, not threatening winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Weseekherthere (10-12) at Roscommon 2m Yielding - Soft in Jun.
Cushendun 28-1 (11-2) Midfield, ridden and headway 2f out, edged left but kept on well final fulong, went third towards finish, 3rd of 15, 1 1/4l behind The Hardest Geezer (11-2) at Ayr 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Junker D'allier (FR) 5-4fav (11-2) Midfield, headway and chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and made challenge 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, kept on but headed post, 2nd of 15, shd behind The Hardest Geezer (11-2) at Ayr 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Malicash (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden almost upsides 3f out, could not go pace of leaders over 1f out, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Union Avenue (11-2) at Kelso 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Posh Et Noir Black Sam Bellamy gelding out of Fairly Posh.
Young Getaway (IRE) Getaway gelding out of The Youngone.
Josie Alice (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led, pressed for lead and ridden over 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened into 3rd entering final furlong, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Guard The Moon (11-9) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) hvy in Dec.