18:30 Ayr

Friday 23 June 2017

All18:3019:0519:4020:1020:4521:15

Tennent's Black Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 2m 12.34s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Diamonds A Dancing^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 60

33/1

Yet to win over this far and in fact is unraced over as far as this since his 2013 debut over 1m4f at Pontefract. Recent runs have been over 6f-7f and if they go a true gallop here the you have to seriously question his stamina.

Form: 11339-6

(4)

Colour Contrast^p²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 59| BF

11/8

Yet to win in six runs, the last three in handicaps and from similar marks to this. Conditions look fine for him and this step up in trip might elicit some improvement. At the very least, he should remain competitive here.

Form: 078-526

(6)

Rebel State¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss A Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 58

10/1

Lingfield maiden winner (1m) in January when with Richard Spencer, but well beaten in all starts since. Should be capable of getting involved from this mark, but clearly has that to prove. Step up in trip looks within his compass. Market check advised.

Form: 3-14030

(5)

Inspector Norse^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Mrs Emily Roberts⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 56| D

10/1

Both his wins came in 2014 when with Sylvester Kirk and he has been thrashed in all sic starts for current yard, dropping 15lb in the process. Considering one of his wins was from a mark of 75, he could be seen as lurking dangerously in the handicap now, given his trainer's record, so money for him would be interesting.

Form: 00980-6

(14)

Rioja Day^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ms R Hill⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 56| C

22/1

4lb higher than when winning here over 7f (good) earlier in the month. Likes it here and has won from higher marks in the past, but doesn't convince that he gets this far.

Form: 8-40819

(12)

Hellavashock^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Ryan Nichol⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 52

16/1

Dropped a further 2lb since being a 2½L third at Hamilton (1m½f, soft) last time and looked to get this trip on one of his three tries over it last season in maidens, so he is quite interesting now returned to it and with cheek pieces fitted.

Form: 8908-03

(13)

Firestorm¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: R Ford| OR: 52

14/1

1-35 and has plummeted in the weights as a result of a winless run that dates back to his third start in May 2014. No encouragement this year that he is about to halt that slide and others preferred.

Form: 060496

(3)

Frontline Phantom⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss C A Greenway⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 50| D

22/1

Another without a win since 2014, though he has eight to his name at 1m1f-1m2f. Is on the same mark as when competitive in defeat in his last two outings and acts well on a sound/fast surface, so should now be too far away.

Form: 00/9034

(7)

Haymarket¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Mrs C Bartley| T: R M Smith| OR: 49| BF| CD

11/2

Won over C&D (good to soft) in 2015 and twice made the frame over C&D on good ground in the same season. Much lower in the handicap now but does run to his current rating as shown here last time and should be thereabouts.

Form: 480-733

(9)

Ronaldinho^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Emma Sayer| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 48| D

28/1

His last win was over this trip in 2013, but he was placed from a 6lb higher mark (1m4½f, good to firm) at Musselburgh in August and threw in one or two reasonable efforts over hurdles since. Acts on a sound surface, although his best turf form has all been with some cut in the ground.

Form: 680/692-

(10)

Wolf Heart³⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Miss Anna Hesketh| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 47| CD

33/1

Sole success came in a dead-heat over C&D in 2015 (good) from the same mark as today. Clearly has not been easy to get to the racecourse since then, having done so just once more, so has well being to prove.

Form: 56431/0-

(8)

Whitchurch^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Mr Alex Ferguson| T: I Jardine| OR: 47| D

28/1

Stays 1m4f, but won over this trip at Nottingham (good) in October from 2lb higher and was just held from 6lb higher than today at Chelmsford when trying to follow up that success. Blinkers now swapped for cheekpieces and on his second start for this yard, he is not dismissed from a workable mark.

Form: 00-9056

(11)

Ted's Brother¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Miss A Peck⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 47| C

12/1

Prolific winner at 7f-1m½f and on ground ranging from good to firm through to soft. Can't say he doesn't get this trip (has run well at up to 1m6f) but is clearly vulnerable when racing over further than those wins and he is still 2lb higher than the last of them.

Form: 352382

(2)

Mount Cheiron^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss C Walton| T: R Ford| OR: 46| D

25/1

4lb lower than when scoring over this trip at Newcastle last year but his sole success on turf was four years ago in a seller and although he ran well enough last time at Chester, a further 1lb drop still does not look attactive enough to take a financial interest.

Form: 558543

Forecasts

Colour Contrast (11/8), Haymarket (11/2), Inspector Norse (10/1), Rebel State (10/1), Ted's Brother (12/1), Firestorm (14/1), Hellavashock (16/1), Frontline Phantom (22/1), Rioja Day (22/1), Mount Cheiron (25/1), Whitchurch (28/1), Ronaldinho (28/1), Diamonds A Dancing (33/1), Wolf Heart (33/1)

A very moderate start to the card and the tentative suggestion is WHITCHURCH, who stays beyond this, has run well not too long ago from a higher mark, while his trainer will know more about him after his last start. Haymarket should be involved in the shake-up, while Frontline Phantom and Rebel State are others to consider. Helluvashock is perhaps the most interesting of the remainder, though any support for Inspector Norse should also be heeded.