12:10 Ayr

Thursday 29 November 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Caledonia Best Maiden Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 12:11 | Winning time: 4m 9.6s

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Selected odds by:

Buster Valentine²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson

11/8

Cost £100,000 after a debut Irish point win. This doesn't look the strongest of races in which to start, in good hands, so decent debut anticipated.

Form: 1

Ca Le Ferra⁶³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| BF

7/1

Showed some promise over hurdles in 2016, but off the track since March 2017. Bit to prove in terms of fitness after such an absence, but market support would make him interesting.

Form: 325F20/

Dunly³⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart

6/1

Placed in all four of his bumpers, but could not improve on that in a similar race to this here a year or so ago. Still early days. Has an absence to overcome, but another who would be interesting if supported.

Form: 2223/7-

Emissaire^h⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| C

9/2

Debut bumper winner here (heavy) last year. Respectable hurdles debut at Perth in September, and with some natural improvement for that, he could figure.

Form: 170-5

Leonasisland^h¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd

80/1

Has completed in just two of his six starts and been well beaten in both. Watch.

Form: PP0-PP7

Mistermoonboy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: L Kerr

50/1

Moderate so far in point-to-points and on his debut in a bumper here recently. Makes hurdles debut this time with others preferred.

Form: 44-338

Ride The Lightning⁶⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| BF

16/1

Triple Flat winner at 1m3f-1m4f, current official rating 83. If transferring that ability to hurdles, then he would probably have a squeak here.

Form:

Selfcontrol^h1²²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson

16/1

Achieved nothing for Paul Nicholls and cost just £1,200 in May. Probably one to watch on debut for this stable, sporting first-time hood.

Form: F/69-

Jessiemac^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: I A Duncan

50/1

Beaten 29L on her recent hurdles debut at this venue. Can only watch this time.

Form: 574

Robin De Plan⁵⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh

66/1

Runner-up on debut in an Irish point-to-point last year, before being pulled up when favourite next time. Cost £5,000 and has a 17-month absence to overcome on her rules debut, but from an good family, and is one of the more interesting runners.

Form: 2/P-

Can Can Sixty Two⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith

9/1

Dual Flat winner on easy/testing ground for Mick Channon (OR 66). Has joined this trainer since last seen in September. Market check ahead of her hurdles debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Buster Valentine (11/8), Emissaire (9/2), Dunly (6/1), Ca Le Ferra (7/1), Can Can Sixty Two (9/1), Selfcontrol (16/1), Ride The Lightning (16/1), Mistermoonboy (50/1), Jessiemac (50/1), Robin De Plan (66/1), Leonasisland (80/1)

A modest opener where those who have raced have questions to answer and it could be worth siding with newcomer BUSTER VALENTINE. He represents a stable in decent form and will be well versed ahead of this first assignment. Money for either of James Ewart's pair Ce La Ferra or Dunly would make them of interest, while Emissaire and Ride The Lightning are both considered. Robin De Plan comes from decent jumping stock and is another to watch with interest on debut.