15:30 Ayr

Friday 8 March 2024

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

Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 5m 33.2s

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Selected odds by:

Innovated^t1⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 115| D

100/1

Ended his time with Henry de Bromhead on a lesser note and has failed to complete both starts for new yard this season. Now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: P/15-7PU

Chameron^p,t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 115| D

125/1

Scored once from 5 starts for Patrick Griffin last term and pulled up all 3 starts for new connections.

Form: 212-PPP

High Moon^p1⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R Menzies| OR: 113| D

11/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner who opened his account in determined fashion at Newcastle last spring. Yet to put his best foot forward this season but he is at least edging down the weights (now 3 lb below the mark he won off at Newcastle) and perhaps the addition of cheekpieces will give him a lift.

Form: 321-P63

Grand Voyage^p1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 110| CD

20/1

Off the mark at the second attempt in this sphere over C&D back in November 2022 but more miss than hit since, offering little in 4 outings so far this season. Hopes now pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking a return to form.

Form: 32-67P8

Leading Force³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

9/2

rish point winner who finished runner-up 4 times over hurdles last season. Also found just one too good over an inadequate trip on chase debut at Sedgefield (17f, heavy) and can be expected to build on that back up in distance here.

Form: 2224-32

Monochromix²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

7/2

Form dipped following a solid reappearance effort over hurdles but got back on track switched to fences when beaten ¾-length by Artic Row over C&D (heavy) last month, the pair pulling well clear of the rest. Another bold show likely.

Form: 2-255P2

Artic Row^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 107| CD

9/4

Justified market confidence in C&D handicap in good style in December. Made it 3-3 over obstacles at this course when getting the better of an argument with Monochromix last time and while this 7 lb higher mark demands more, he remains open to improvement as a chaser.

Form: 7-3P1F1

Low Mileage⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 105

18/1

Fairly modest maiden over hurdles/fences in Ireland and he's opposable on this debut for yard.

Form: 57-P545

Coniston Clouds⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 102| BF

9/2

Hurdles winner last spring and promising start over fences when landing a Catterick handicap (19.2f, good to soft) on return in November. Took a nasty fall at Sedgefield next time but he's unexposed in this sphere and will be a threat provided his confidence hasn't been dented.

Form: 6919-1F

Ardera Cross^p¹¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 97| CD

20/1

Nine-time course winner, the latest gained in a 6-runner handicap over 2m at the turn of the year. Didn't do a great deal wrong when fourth over C&D recently but was no match for Artic Row in the run up to Christmas and he looks vulnerable for win purposes on this occasion.

Form: 952164

Forecasts

Artic Row (9/4), Monochromix (7/2), Coniston Clouds (9/2), Leading Force (9/2), High Moon (11/1), Low Mileage (18/1), Ardera Cross (20/1), Grand Voyage (20/1), Innovated (100/1), Chameron (125/1)

The winning margin was less than a length when ARTIC ROW got the better of Monochromix over C&D last month but, with all due respect to the latter, Nick Alexander's charge was value for extra and he is taken to strike again. Monochromix should be in the mix once more but a bigger threat may be posed by Coniston Clouds, who looked good on his chase debut. Leading Force is also of interest, while High Moon is dangerous to discount off a reduced mark.