12:30 Ayr

Tuesday 21 December 2021

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:4515:15

Come Racing On January 2nd 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 3m 57.6s

Ballycoose²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| D

4/1

Irish raider who looks an interesting recruit to hurdling after running out a cosy winner of a Down Royal bumper on debut in May. Needs monitoring closely in the betting.

Form: 1

Bridge Road¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

33/1

Has merely hinted at ability in a bumper/Uttoxeter maiden hurdle and is probably one for handicaps at longer trips.

Form: 06-P8

Douglas Talking^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

11/1

Bumper winner who looks a work in progress over hurdles, shaping much better than the distance beaten suggests at Aintree prior to finishing fifth at Newcastle. Tongue tie on for the 1st time.

Form: F-195

Euchan Falls³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith

300/1

Well held in a pair of bumpers.

Form: 80

Parisencore²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 110

11/8

Runner-up on second of 2 starts in bumpers and has matched that form when filling same spot both starts over hurdles, still looking a bit raw under pressure at Newcastle latest. Leading contender.

Form: 52-22

Sure Touch²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| BF

15/8

Fairly useful bumper winner who wasn't seen to best effect when second in 4-runner maiden at Southwell (15.8f, good) on hurdles debut 28 days ago, running on after set plenty to do. Sure to improve.

Form: 10-2

Travail D'Orfevre³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| CD

12/1

Course bumper winner who shaped with some encouragement on the back of a wind operation sent hurdling when fourth in a C&D novice 35 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 18-4

Annies Regatta²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: W Coltherd

150/1

Achieved little in bumpers and did likewise sent hurdling at Doncaster (19.4f) 24 days ago.

Form: 57-45

Gustav's Dream²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander

250/1

Looks more one for low-grade handicaps a bit further down the line.

Form: 67

Non-Runners

Desert Sapphire²⁶⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Parisencore (11/8), Sure Touch (15/8), Ballycoose (4/1), Douglas Talking (11/1), Travail D'Orfevre (12/1), Desert Sapphire (20/1), Bridge Road (33/1), Annies Regatta (150/1), Gustav's Dream (250/1), Euchan Falls (300/1)

Bumper-winner SURE TOUCH was set too much to do by his rider in a steadily-run affair on his hurdling debut at Southwell 4 weeks ago, so is well worth another chance with improvement very much on the cards. Ballycoose and Parisencore look the main threats.

SURE TOUCH
BALLYCOOSE (IRE)
PARISENCORE (FR)

Previous Winners

2020

Wetlands

Weight: 11-7 |Age: 5

J: B S Hughes | T: N G Richards

1/5

Prize Money

1st: £4,302.002nd: £1,982.003rd: £991.004th: £496.00