14:30 Ayr

Friday 8 March 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 4m 2.58s

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Selected odds by:

Kellie's Dream¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: D Bourke| OR: 100| D

20/1

Dual hurdler winner for Andrew Slattery in Ireland. Below form on first start for this yard at Carlisle 18 days ago but could step up on that.

Form: 695644

Mack The Man^v1²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 100| D

9/1

Four-time winner over hurdles but mixed form in 4 starts last season and yet to fire this term. Something to prove.

Form: 453-678

Cancan¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 99| CD

7/4

C&D winner. Respectable third of 10 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft) 19 days ago. Arrives in better form than most and is worth taking a chance on.

Form: 8/P2533

Serious Ego¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 99| D

12/1

Latest win in hurdle at Hexham in November. Respectable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, heavy, 14/1) 14 days ago, barely adequate test. Not discounted.

Form: 511683

River Ayr³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: R M Smith| OR: 95

14/1

Promise in bumpers and seems to have been brought along gradually over hurdles. Could step forward now handicapping but assessor has taken no chances with opening mark.

Form: 28-965

Skiddaw⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 94WS

15/2

Has shown ability in his 2 completed hurdle runs. Pulled up last time but given a break ahead of this handicap debut, so worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 0-57P

Sword Of Fate¹⁷⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: L Kerr| OR: 94| BF| D

28/1

Front runner who capitalised on a drop in grade when scoring over fences at Perth. Decent second at Cartmel next time and shaped as if still in form last time. Not seen for 178 days and back over hurdles now, but warrants a market check.

Form: 382126

Batman For Ever²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 93

10/1

Fair winning hurdler/chaser at up to 2½m in France in 2021 but didn't offer much for Rebecca Menzies and tame start for this yard in handicap hurdle at Newcastle 22 days ago. Attracted support last time so not completely ruled out.

Form: P6P9-69

Northern Cardinal²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 89

14/1

Third in a bumper in April but has been a bit too keen to date over hurdles. Could make more of an impact if he settles better on handicap bow.

Form: 3-9785

Don't Look Back¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 80

11/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1m) but well held completed starts in this sphere. Others make more appeal.

Form: 6F7-965

Iolani^p¹⁰⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: A Slack| OR: 79| D

28/1

=Veteran who arrives here on a losing run and has gone off the boil lately. Up against it.

Form: 3735P0

Lifetime Adventure^t1⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 79

9/1

Modest maiden hurdler who ran with credit when fourth at Wetherby 8 days ago. Tongue tied now but no certainty to back up latest effort.

Form: 8P26U4

Golden Swift³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Smith⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 74

33/1

Well held in a bumper/over hurdles. Hard to fancy despite switch to handicaps.

Form: 0000

Captain Nelson^t⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: R M Smith| OR: 74

66/1

Little worthwhile form and jumping is a major issue. Switches to handicapping after a break.

Form: UF0P-P8

Forecasts

Cancan (7/4), Skiddaw (15/2), Mack The Man (9/1), Lifetime Adventure (9/1), Batman For Ever (10/1), Don't Look Back (11/1), Serious Ego (12/1), River Ayr (14/1), Northern Cardinal (14/1), Kellie's Dream (20/1), Iolani (28/1), Sword Of Fate (28/1), Golden Swift (33/1), Captain Nelson (66/1)

CANCAN has been holding her form well, which is more than can be said for most, so she gets the nod ahead of Serious Ego, who ran with credit last time. Northern Cardinal is probably the pick of the numerous handicap debutants.