15:15 Ayr

Tuesday 2 January 2024

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

Quiz Night At Golf Inn Prestwick Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 4m 11.62s

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Selected odds by:

Captain Nelson^t²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R M Smith| OR: 74

250/1

Little worthwhile form and jumping is a major issue.

Form: PUF0P-P

Golden Swift²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Smith⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R M Smith

250/1

Down the field in a bumper and maiden hurdle here in recent weeks.

Form: 00

Heart Above¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

11/1

Promise when placed on all 3 starts in bumpers. Something can't have been right when well held on his Musselburgh hurdle debut and he remains one who should be up to making his presence felt in races such as this.

Form: 32-27

Joshua Des Flos²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

4/7

Placed in 2 bumpers and third on all 3 starts over hurdles, the last twice over C&D. 2m is sharp enough for him but he does set a clear form standard here.

Form: 2/3-333

Lucky Soldier²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Mulqueen| T: N W Alexander

18/1

Promising second in a bumper here on debut in 2022 but well held since, making mistakes when a remote fifth on C&D reappearance 22 days ago.

Form: 2469-5

Myretown⁴⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| BF

6/1

£135,000 buy after winning an Irish point in April 2022. Showed plenty to work on when fourth in a Hexham bumper 6 months later. Has a 15-month absence to overcome now hurdling but he's still an interesting contender, particularly if backed.

Form: F1/4-

Professor Klump^p1,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

14/1

Placed on the second of his 2 starts in points. Has failed to land a blow in 2 starts in this sphere but early days and perhaps cheekpieces will spark improvement.

Form: 53-57

River Ayr²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: R M Smith

80/1

Promise when runner-up on the first of 2 course bumpers last season but well held switched to hurdles here 3 weeks ago. Can only watch.

Form: 28-9

Skiddaw^t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander

14/1

Has shown ability in his 2 hurdle runs but is perhaps one who won't really come into his own until handicapping. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 0-57

Supreme Authority^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: S R B Crawford

14/1

Related to plenty of winners but no obvious short-term encouragement when down the field on Leopardstown debut on Boxing Day.

Form: 0

Tommy Combats²²

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

33/1

Bought for £21,000 after finishing third on the first of 2 starts in Irish points. More one for the longer term judged on his remote sixth on C&D hurdle debut 3 weeks ago.

Form: 35-6

It's For You Mum²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J Kington| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

100/1

Well held on her only start in bumpers and similar story on completed outing over hurdles. Hard to fancy.

Form: 6F6P

Midnight Alnwicky¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: A Nicol

250/1

150/1 when pulled up in Carlisle novice hurdle on debut in December.

Form: P

Raynbo

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

16/1

Sister to bumper winner Henry Box Brown and half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Island Mahee (17f-2½m winner. Dam half-sister to useful hurdler/smart chaser Mendip Express. Joshua des Flos has to be considered the stable first string unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.

Form:

Forecasts

Joshua Des Flos (4/7), Myretown (6/1), Heart Above (11/1), Professor Klump (14/1), Supreme Authority (14/1), Skiddaw (14/1), Raynbo (16/1), Lucky Soldier (18/1), Tommy Combats (33/1), River Ayr (80/1), It's For You Mum (100/1), Captain Nelson (250/1), Golden Swift (250/1), Midnight Alnwicky (250/1)

Plenty of runners but it's hard to make out a case for many of them. We may not see the very best of JOSHUA DES FLOS until he goes back over further but he might still have too much for today's opposition. A market move for Lucinda Russell hurdle debutant Myretown, who hasn't been seen finishing fourth in a bumper 15 months ago, would make him a possible threat. Heart Above should be a lot better than he showed on his hurdle debut and completes the shortlist.