15:15 Ayr

Friday 11 April 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:58

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 11.29s

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Selected odds by:

Gelino Bello²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

22/1

Smart form when winning 2 novice chases at end of 2022. Very lightly raced since and while there were positives to take from his reappearance spin over hurdles at Wincanton on Boxing Day (first run following a wind op), he has offered little back in this sphere the last twice.

Form: 1FP/6PP

Sure Touch²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 137| D

13/2

Smashing start over fences last year, a fourth success in this sphere coming in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Has found life tougher since but has slipped back to the mark off which he landed the Summer Plate, so all is far from lost.

Form: 158P46

Crebilly³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136| D

11/2

Did well over fences last term, the highlight being a fine second in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. Failed to see out the 25f trip in the Ultima at this season's Festival last month and he's one to be interested in off a 2 lb lower mark now back down in trip.

Form: 27-0369

Prairie Wolf^p⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 136| BF| D

11/1

Much improved when winning 3 times over fences last term and back in the groove when adding to his tally at Haydock (16.3f, soft) in January. However, he has followed that with a couple of somewhat uninspiring displays and others make more appeal on this occasion.

Form: 4PU143

Densworth^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 135

25/1

Three-time hurdles winner who left his reappearance/chase debut well behind when landing a 5-runner Wetherby handicap (19.5f, good) in November. Has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts, though, and Leader In The Park appears to be the stable first-string.

Form: 1P-51P0

Will Carver^t¹³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| D

22/1

Won 3 times over hurdles and perfect start in this sphere when taking a 21f Cartmel handicap last May. Fair third to Riskintheground at Uttoxeter the following month but didn't show much in 2 starts when returning from a break during the autumn. Nico de Boinville prefers Persian Time.

Form: PP-138P

Vintage Fizz¹⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 129| D

7/1

Twice a winner of small-field handicap chases at around 2½m in 2023 and went close at Market Rasen last summer. Also found just one too good in the Grand Sefton at Aintree when last seen in November (has gone well fresh in the past) and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 326542

Leader In The Park⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 129| BF| D

7/2

Hurdles winner but every inch a chaser on looks and left his reappearance/chase debut behind when landing novice handicaps at Kempton and Warwick (both at around 2½m) during the winter. Only gave best late on when third to Walk On Quest at Kelso last time and now 4 lb better off with that rival.

Form: 14-5113

Persian Time^p1⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129

14/1

Won 2 of first 4 starts over fences last term, but ended the campaign in underwhelming fashion and hasn't shown much spark in 3 outings this season, including back over hurdles last time. On the upside his mark is heading south and perhaps the addition of cheekpieces will give him a lift.

Form: 14P-5PP

Riskintheground^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

13/2

Big improver with 4 handicap wins between May and September last year. Safely held first 2 starts since returning from a break in February but shaped as though coming back to the boil when fifth at Newbury last time and, back down to his last winning mark, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 354445

Ned Tanner^p,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 122| CD

11/2

Back on track fitted with headgear/tongue tie when scoring at Haydock in December and, having found one too good on his next 2 starts, he resumed winning ways when striking over C&D (heavy) last month. Shade more needed up 3 lb but he's clearly in good nick.

Form: 451221

Non-Runners

Walk On Quest²⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Leader In The Park (7/2), Walk On Quest (9/2), Ned Tanner (11/2), Crebilly (11/2), Riskintheground (13/2), Sure Touch (13/2), Vintage Fizz (7/1), Prairie Wolf (11/1), Persian Time (14/1), Will Carver (22/1), Gelino Bello (22/1), Densworth (25/1)

It was around this time last year that RISKINTHEGROUND sprouted wings and, having shaped as though close to concert pitch at Newbury last time, he could be the answer. Leader In The Park wasn't able to get the job done when bidding for the hat-trick at Kelso but he did well under the circumstances and remains of interest. He is second choice ahead of Vintage Fizz, who performed with great credit in the Grand Sefton on his latest start. Crebilly is also in with a shout.