15:10 Ayr

Monday 13 August 2018

All13:3514:0514:4015:1015:4016:1516:4517:15

Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 1m 42.38s

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Selected odds by:

(13)

Muirsheen Durkin^b1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: S Spencer| OR: 77

12/1

Second run for this yard and the second after wind surgery with the blinkers going on for the first-time. Below form when last seen (never dangerous) he remains above his last winning mark back down in trip; others appeal more.

Form: 82686-6

(2)

Carnageo^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| D

5/1

Features off a mark that would make him dangerous to all if he was on a going day although those are few and far between nowadays. Underperformed the last twice having shown up well in a better quality handicaps; can't be written off but risky.

Form: 788757

(6)

War Department^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 72

13/2

Still not anywhere near his best but his mark is beginning to reflect that (19lb below his last winning mark) and he ran with enough credit last time to be taken notice of here. Cheekpieces back on in a grade that he should be competitive in.

Form: 096225

(10)

Dark Crystal³⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: A Mullen| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 70| CD

50/1

Won six times here (two-time C&D) win and took this event in 2015 off a 9lb lower mark. Not been seen for over a year now though and likely to need this in what is a competitive heat still above her last winning mark.

Form: 335828-

(12)

Hasselnott¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Donagh O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 68| D

9/2

A record of 1-26 probably isn't as bad as it looks as his run style (held up) often means he is a hostage to fortune. Has shaped better than his finishing position suggests (last two races) but does need a race to fall the right way to prosper.

Form: 4-44839

(8)

Chinese Spirit⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 68| CD

4/1

Dual course winner who is effective over this trip and has been running well without winning this season. Just 1lb above his last winning mark a repeat of his Hamilton 2nd last time would put him right in the mix for a deserved win.

Form: 424462

(14)

Restive⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 67| D

18/1

Formerly with Iain Jardine he joins this yard on the back of finishing last of six at Hamilton Over 1m3f (ran too free). Back below his last winning mark (73) and capable off this mark if bouncing back to last year's form; this trip looks short.

Form: 117-356

(4)

Branscombe^v⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 74| D

10/1

Not the most trustworthy of performers but had slid down the weights a little when producing a career-best on the AW (1m) to return him to winning ways. May well have had everything go his way and the 5lb higher mark makes life tougher here.

Form: 823221

(7)

Markhan^b,t²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: G Elliott| OR: 65| BF| D

5/1

Firmly given the impression in his last two starts that he can win off this mark with neither race really being run to suit. Those runs came on back-to-back days, the latest over C&D but he had little chance from his track position; blinkers back on.

Form: 873353

(11)

Pudding Chare¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: R M Smith| OR: 62| C

12/1

Course winner earlier in the year over a slightly longer trip when returning to form out the blue and causing a 50/1 upset (off 2lb lower mark). Failed to repeat that form in three starts since and is proving more miss than hit.

Form: 701758

(3)

Columbia Kid²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: L Smyth| OR: 68

80/1

Has a rather patchy record already and the switch into handicaps doesn't appear to have made much difference. Soundly beaten in her first two starts in this sphere (latest on Saturday) and not hard to place others before her.

Form: 3-02078

Non-Runners

(5)

Instant Attraction²⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: J Garritty

(1)

Acrux²

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: D Nolan

(9)

Redarna⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: J P Sullivan

Forecasts

Chinese Spirit (4/1), Hasselnott (9/2), Markhan (5/1), Carnageo (5/1), War Department (13/2), Acrux (7/1), Branscombe (10/1), Redarna (10/1), Instant Attraction (10/1), Muirsheen Durkin (12/1), Pudding Chare (12/1), Restive (18/1), Dark Crystal (50/1), Columbia Kid (80/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap for the grade with several of these having been capable of competing in much higher grades in the past. Instant Attraction, Carnageo and War Department would all qualify under that premise and all three have to be given plenty of respect here. Dark Crystal is a past winner of this contest but it’s last year’s winner CHINESE SPIRIT who is of the most interest on the back of his good Hamilton 2nd last time out; a repeat of that will see him go close here. Acrux may well prove to be the biggest danger he’s already won four races this year and even off this higher mark still looks as though he can be competitive.