15:00 Ayr

Tuesday 28 July 2020

All12:2012:5513:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:35

Luxury Breaks At Western House Hotel Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 2m 57.38s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(6)

Funny Man^v¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78

17/2

Looks one to oppose for the time being on the basis of his two starts in defeat this year. Finished behind The Navigator (3rd) and Akamanto (4th) when last seen and is still 4lb above last winning mark.

Form: 3268-48

(5)

Ajman Prince¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Rowan Scott| T: A C Whillans| OR: 76

14/1

Improved from seasonal debut to finish a highly respectable third at Newcastle (2m; standard) earlier this month. Any progress from that run would give him place claims once again, and record of 0-2 on turf should not be looked into too much.

Form: 384/2-83

(4)

Billy Ray¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: S England| OR: 76

40/1

Not won since October 2018 (13lb below that mark now). Drops in trip from 2m to 1m5f as he has firs start on the level since March 2020. Too much to prove to recommend on the basis of some really poor recent efforts.

Form: 9008-78

(2)

Eastern Sheriff^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: H Palmer| OR: 86

9/2

Worth another chance given he ran too bad to be true when last seen finishing a well-beaten sixth of six at Newmarket (1m4f; soft). Previous effort when successful on handicap debut brings him into this and a player if back to himself.

Form: 1-416

(1)

Euro Implosion²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74| BF

22/1

Failed to build on seasonal debut effort last time after previously finishing a promising third at Thirsk (1m4f; good) behind the improving Solo Saxophone. Now needs to bounce back and remains 2lb above last winning mark. Will appreciate the rain.

Form: 1070-39

(8)

Trumpet Man²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79

5/1

Surprise he has been unable to build on the promise he showed in novice events last year since switched to handicaps. Excused for finding the demands of a Royal Ascot handicap all too much, but then finished last of four at Ripon (1m4f; good).

Form: 425-04

(3)

Sociologist^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Barry McHugh| T: S Dixon| OR: 65| D

6/1

Won in pretty easy fashion when gaining first turf win at the 10th attempt at Hamilton (1m5f; soft). Up 5lb but won off higher marks on the AW and been in consistent form for a short while now so has to enter calculations.

Form: 244241

(10)

Stockbridge Tap²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J D Bethell| OR: 75

13/8

1lb higher than he was when finishing second to a good yardstick in Mambo Nights on handicap bow at Ripon (1m4f; good). Goes up to 1m5f now, and previous form in maiden company suggested he would have plenty to offer once switched to this sphere.

Form: 3-22

Non-Runners

(7)

Akamanto¹⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: R M Smith J: Non Runner

(9)

The Navigator¹⁶

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: J P Sullivan

Forecasts

Stockbridge Tap (13/8), Eastern Sheriff (9/2), The Navigator (9/2), Trumpet Man (5/1), Sociologist (6/1), Akamanto (8/1), Funny Man (17/2), Ajman Prince (14/1), Euro Implosion (22/1), Billy Ray (40/1)

This looks another wide open contest with Stockbridge Tap likely to be winning in this sphere sooner rather than later after he was by no means disgraced when runner-up to a decent sort on his handicap bow recently. After he finally recorded a first win on turf, Sociologist must enter calculations given how well he won at Hamilton at the start of the month. At a bigger price, Ajman Prince is worth a market check after finishing third in a decent event on the AW when last seen. However, a chance is taken on EASTERN SHERIFF being back to his best after he looked one to follow in handicaps prior to running too bad to be true when upped slightly in class last time.