13:15 Ayr

Monday 2 January 2023

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

Mills Milk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 24.88s

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Selected odds by:

Jet Legs³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 99

4/1

Has performed respectably switched to handicap company the last twice, albeit without managing to build on the promise he showed in a trio of novice hurdles. More needed.

Form: S62-465

Serious Ego⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 98

10/1

Last success was almost 2 years ago and he was rather rather hit and miss last term. However, current mark reflects that and he enters calculations having stepped up on his reappearance run when third at Musselburgh (19.8f, soft) last time.

Form: 5344-53

The Jad Factor^t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 98| D

14/1

Just 2 lb above the mark off which he opened his account in a Newcastle handicap over a similar trip last March. However, ran poorly in a first-time tongue strap (retained) on return here in November.

Form: 23125-0

Maura Jeanne³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 96

25/1

Ex-Irish maiden who was safely held starting out for present connections at Kelso when returning from a break in November. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 8P-3684

Blazing Port⁶¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 95

17/2

Bumper winner for Tristan Davidson who made a promising start over hurdles when runner-up at Hexham in October 2020. Seemingly went the wrong way thereafter, though, and 20-month absence is another reason for concern.

Form: 1222P5/

Darkest Day⁵³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 94

80/1

Off the mark at Plumpton for Gary Moore in March 2021 and runner-up twice for this yard in June of that year. However, he ran no sort of a race at Cartmel when last seen 17 months ago and now has plenty to prove.

Form: 68/2280-

So Many Roads³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 94

9/2

Down the field in 3 starts over hurdles so far but handicaps were always likely to offer a happier hunting ground for this 6-y-o, and he's very much of interest now pitched into one off a realistic opening mark.

Form: 58-56

Master Of The Malt^p1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Bourke| OR: 94

20/1

Modest form on bumper debut and hasn't shown much over hurdles either, beaten a long way on handicap bow at Kelso last time. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 30P-039

Shantou Moon^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 90

14/1

Maiden Irish pointer who appears to have been brought along with handicaps in mind. Worth a second look back up in trip now that he goes down that route.

Form: U33789

Dora De Janeiro³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: S G West| OR: 87

6/1

Losing run stretches back to March 2021 but produced her best effort for a while under a more positive ride when third of 12 at Market Rasen (23f, soft) last time. This drop back in trip looks a good move and she's one to consider.

Form: 4P4-073

Soleil De Cannes⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 102

50/1

Runner-up on the second of his 2 starts over hurdles in France and the run was probably needed when fourth in a 5-runner juvenile on debut for new yard at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft). Still, improvement is certainly needed now upped in trip for this handicap bow.

Form: 02-4

Wotsmyname⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: L Kerr| OR: 85

7/1

Fair efforts on final 2 starts of last season and didn't perform at all badly on return/debut for new yard when fifth in a 10-runner handicap here (19.5f, soft) in November. 2 lb lower now and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: P4654-5

Euchan Falls⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: R M Smith| OR: 83

50/1

Poor maiden who again struggled on return in a 19.5f handicap here in November.

Form: 09769-9

Ex S'elance^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Power⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 78

8/1

Hasn't got his head in front for a while but there was nothing wrong with his latest effort at Newcastle (20.3f, soft) where he was third to the upwardly mobile Blue Shark (winner again since). Claims if able to reproduce that level of form here.

Form: 3-6P473

Big Arthur^h⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 73

40/1

Poor maiden who will need to leave his previous form well behind in order to play a leading role on this handicap debut.

Form: 07UP-68

Halcyon Dreams^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 72

20/1

Yet to score after 18 runs but she posted a creditable fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (20.9f, soft) last time. Place possibilities.

Form: F69764

Nordic Express^v1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 55

125/1

Very little sign of ability and a long way out of the weights. Tried in blinkers last time and connections now reach for more severe headgear.

Form: 09P8-89

Non-Runners

No Mor Isolation¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: S R B Crawford J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Jet Legs (4/1), So Many Roads (9/2), Dora De Janeiro (6/1), Wotsmyname (7/1), Ex S'elance (8/1), Blazing Port (17/2), Serious Ego (10/1), Shantou Moon (14/1), The Jad Factor (14/1), Master Of The Malt (20/1), No Mor Isolation (20/1), Halcyon Dreams (20/1), Maura Jeanne (25/1), Big Arthur (40/1), Euchan Falls (50/1), Soleil De Cannes (50/1), Darkest Day (80/1), Nordic Express (125/1)

This looks wide open and it could be worth chancing SO MANY ROADS, who hasn't pulled up any trees in his 3 runs over hurdles but he could be about to take a sizeable step forward now switched to handicap company. Dora de Janeiro put in a good shift from the front at Market Rasen last time and a reproduction of that would put her firmly in the picture, while Ex S'Elance needs considering judged on his latest effort and Serious Ego also enters calculations.