16:30 Ayr

Tuesday 14 February 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Book The Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 6m 30.27s

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Selected odds by:

Prince Dundee^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107| D

10/1

Enhanced excellent record at Hexham when landing 3m handicap in June. Fair fourth of 11 in handicap chase at Kelso (26.2f) 47 days ago so needs considering eased 1 lb.

Form: 3212P4

Mister Bells⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 106

7/2

Fair ex-Irish chase winner but his run of good form ended when only fifth at Haydock (21f) in December. This is easier and he's weighted to go well after his break.

Form: 768435

Gentleman De Mai^p1³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 105| BF| C

5/2

Winner on hurdling debut here and in good nick until only sixth in 23f handicap hurdle at Newcastle last month. Goes chasing now in first-time cheekpieces and can't be ruled out.

Form: 2/1-536

Cuddly Dudley^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 100

14/1

Second in 3m Southwell novice hurdle in September but well held both runs since. Goes chasing now with something to prove.

Form: 8-275

Without Conviction^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 95

9/1

Fair winning chaser but had wind op and tongue strap on before below-par third of 4 in handicap chase at Kelso (23.4f) 30 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 37-3P63

Maid Of Houxty⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: D W Whillans| OR: 88

5/1

Largely disappointed over hurdles last term and failed to build on his Kelso chasing second when fourth in Catterick handicap last time. More is required.

Form: 968-424

So Ladylike^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 83| D

25/1

Arrives below par, seventh of 12 in handicap chase at Down Royal (20f) 21 days ago. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 998P77

Alone No More⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Lucy Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 82| D

9/1

Rules form is pretty uninspiring and he came in a below-par fifth on yard debut in 25f Catterick handicap last month. Others appeal more.

Form: 2322-55

Wotsmyname¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: L Kerr| OR: 80

7/1

Still a maiden and he arrives out of sorts too over hurdles. It's easy to look elsewhere on his first go over fences.

Form: 54-5098

Diamond Road^p⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 66

200/1

Yet to show any worthwhile form and looks set for another struggle from 14 lb out of the handicap.

Form: P/0-P5P0

Forecasts

Gentleman De Mai (5/2), Mister Bells (7/2), Maid Of Houxty (5/1), Wotsmyname (7/1), Without Conviction (9/1), Alone No More (9/1), Prince Dundee (10/1), Cuddly Dudley (14/1), So Ladylike (25/1), Diamond Road (200/1)

Lots of these arrive with question marks against them so it could be worth siding with MISTER BELLS who has a lot less on his plate than when fifth at Haydock last time and is also weighted to have a big say. Top-weight Prince Dundee and chasing-newcomer Gentleman de Mai appeal as the duo to chase home Micky Hammond's ex-Irish chaser in that order.