GB - Ayr - Race 6

Thoroughbred

17 Runners

24.3f

Handicap Hurdle

Turf

Soft (Good to Soft in places)

22.0K

VIEW

Verdict

Despite the large field this can be whittled down to 3 chief protagonists, namely SOCIETY SOLDIER, Alentejo and Woodland Park, in that order of preference. The cases for the trio in question are all compelling but from a potential standpoint Society Soldier is the clear pick. Indeed, it was a decent mares novice that she won with plenty of authority here last time and she should have plenty more to offer now pitched into a handicap over a trip that promises to be right up her street.

numberFire Picks

Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob	Odds
15	Third sole start between the flags and has taken sizeable steps forward with each of her 3 starts over hurdles, most recently landing a mares novice in good style upped to 20.4f here (soft) last month. Unexposed and further progress likely now faced with an even stiffer test on this handicap debut. 1st Pick 15 Society Soldier (Ire) Jockey: Derek Fox Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore J: Derek Fox T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	100	-	-	-	13%	7/1
Analysis Third sole start between the flags and has taken sizeable steps forward with each of her 3 starts over hurdles, most recently landing a mares novice in good style upped to 20.4f here (soft) last month. Unexposed and further progress likely now faced with an even stiffer test on this handicap debut.
9	Failed to reproduce anything akin to peak French hurdles form when pulled up on chase/stable debut at Ffos Las in January. However, the blinkers he sported for the first time there were retained when runner-up back over hurdles at Newbury (3m, heavy) since and he's a big player off the same mark. 2nd Pick 9 Alentejo (Fr) Jockey: James Bowen Trainer: Nicky Henderson J: James Bowen T: Nicky Henderson	99	-	-	-	12%	8/1
Analysis Failed to reproduce anything akin to peak French hurdles form when pulled up on chase/stable debut at Ffos Las in January. However, the blinkers he sported for the first time there were retained when runner-up back over hurdles at Newbury (3m, heavy) since and he's a big player off the same mark.
2	Bumper winner who landed the odds on second run over hurdles in a Leicester maiden in November. Beaten favourite all 4 starts since switched to handicaps but, at the same time, he has performed with credit on each occasion and the form of his latest Wetherby second when upped to 3m is solid. 3rd Pick 2 Woodland Park (Ire) Jockey: Sean Bowen Trainer: Olly Murphy J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy	98	-	-	-	17%	5/1
Analysis Bumper winner who landed the odds on second run over hurdles in a Leicester maiden in November. Beaten favourite all 4 starts since switched to handicaps but, at the same time, he has performed with credit on each occasion and the form of his latest Wetherby second when upped to 3m is solid.

Upcoming Races

Horse Racing Basic Terms

Objection

Claim of foul lodged by a jockey for perceived dangerous or illegal riding by a rival.

Firm

A dry turf course, equal to a ‘fast’ dirt track.

Blinkers

A hood worn on a horse’s head to limit side vision, which can improve concentration. Blinkers are added or removed to relax a horse or give it more focus.