15:05 Ayr

Wednesday 23 May 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:40

Whyte & Mackay Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 1m 10.55s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Naples Bay³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 59

9/4

Ran a good race in third at Thirsk last time out and is probably worth another try on a quicker surface. On the same mark and easy to imagine him going well.

Form: 58609-3

(9)

Star Cracker^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 57| BF| C| D

7/2

Ran a fine race in second at Newcastle last time out and steps up in trip by a furlong here. This trip fine and 2lb rise shouldn't be an issue, but slightly softer ground probably preferable.

Form: 637682

(4)

Goninodaethat²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: J S Goldie| OR: 52| CD

16/1

Plenty of wins at this course, but most of his racing has been here. Last couple of runs have come at Musselburgh and didn't suggest he could be close to getting his head back in front.

Form: 66040-0

(1)

Gaelic Wizard^v⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: Gemma Tutty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 47| D

5/1

Looked like the return to this trip may help when running fairly well over 5f, and that's an impression backed up by his recent form. Acts on quick ground and should go very well.

Form: 56-5553

(8)

Iconic Figure^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 46

7/1

0-25 overall in his career and better efforts to date have generally come on the AW. Much more needed stepping back down in trip.

Form: 0-23630

(2)

Cheeni²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 45| CD

8/1

C&D win last July was her only win to date, though she ran okay over shorter last time out and the return to this trip should suit.

Form: 53456-6

(7)

Simbas Song⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 45

14/1

Down the field in four runs in maidens and makes her handicap debut here. Has a suitably lowly opening mark but still yet to demonstrate much, if anything, in terms of ability.

Form: 700-9

(11)

Guiding Star^p¹³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: P J McKenna| OR: 45| D

22/1

Just 1-22 in her career, and recent efforts on the AW haven't suggested that this return to turf will spark enough improvement for her to get competitive again.

Form: 00859-0

(5)

I Am Dandy²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Rhona Pindar⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 47

22/1

Hasn't managed to improve on poor novice form in handicap company so far, and looks set for another minor role here.

Form: 05785-9

(6)

Mardy Gras²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 45

40/1

Came in last in all three runs in novice company (all at Newcastle), and has it all to prove on turf/handicap debut.

Form: 709

Non-Runners

(3)

Berlios³²

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: Rebecca Bastiman J: P Makin

(12)

Prazeres²⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 4

T: J L Eyre J: D Allan

Forecasts

Naples Bay (9/4), Star Cracker (7/2), Gaelic Wizard (5/1), Prazeres (5/1), Berlios (6/1), Iconic Figure (7/1), Cheeni (8/1), Simbas Song (14/1), Goninodaethat (16/1), Guiding Star (22/1), I Am Dandy (22/1), Mardy Gras (40/1)

As is often the case if these lower graded handicaps, it may pay to look towards the head of the weights, and Star Cracker ran well at Newcastle last time out but probably wants softer ground, while Berlios can't be discounted based on his best turf form. However preference is for NAPLES BAY, who finished a fine third at Thirsk last time out and in doing so took a step forward that suggests he should be capable of recording a second win here provided he handles the likely fast ground.