16:00 Ayr

Wednesday 24 May 2023

All14:2014:5515:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Whitley Neill Handicap

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 1m 39.53s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Hortzadar²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 80| D

6/1

Useful handicapper at best. Good second on Ripon reappearance last month and may have found run coming too soon when only eighth of 11 at Beverley (8.5f, good to soft) a week later. Player on the Ripon form.

Form:

(8)

Mountbatten^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 80

9/2

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy, 10/1) 18 days ago. This low-mileage 4-y-o may have more to offer and merits plenty of respect up 3 lb.

Form:

(7)

Ventura Rascal³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 76| CD

17/2

C&D winner. Respectable fourth of 16 in handicap (16/1) at Pontefract (1m, good to soft) on reappearance 30 days ago. Claims if he can build on that.

Form:

(9)

Flylikeaneagle^b,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 76| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Eight wins from 26 Flat runs, the latest at Musselburgh (1m) last month. Not in the same form when 8 lengths last of 4 to Star Shield over C&D since, though.

Form:

(3)

Star Shield^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Robinson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75| CD

5/1

Something to spare when back to winning ways in a 4-runner race over C&D under Jason Watson 20 days ago. Only nudged up 2 lb but Watson partners stablemate Hortzadar.

Form:

(2)

Wadacre Grace²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 73| D

22/1

Pair of AW wins from the front this spring but well beaten back on turf at Musselburgh last month.

Form:

(1)

Yaaser¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 73| CD

85/40

C&D winner last summer but has yet to seriously threaten in 3 outings this year, not helped by slow starts. His mark is coming down but need to see more.

Form:

(4)

Circles^b,t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A McCann| OR: 66

22/1

Pair of 7f Dundalk wins in February. 10/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap there (6f) 43 days ago, running on late. Significantly back up in trip. Hasn't troubled the judge in 3 previous outings on turf.

Form:

(5)

Golden Valour^v1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: R M Smith| OR: 61

12/1

Temperamental sort. Twenty one runs since last win in 2020. Seventh of 8 in handicap at this course (1¼m, good to firm, 5/1) on reappearance 20 days ago. First-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form:

Forecasts

Yaaser (85/40), Mountbatten (9/2), Star Shield (5/1), Hortzadar (6/1), Ventura Rascal (17/2), Golden Valour (12/1), Flylikeaneagle (12/1), Wadacre Grace (22/1), Circles (22/1)

David O'Meara holds a strong hand, with HORTZADAR taken to build on his promising reappearance at the second time of asking and deny Star Shield a C&D double. Lambourn raider Mountbatten looks best of the remainder.