Racecards
14:20 Ayr
Scottish Sun Future Champion Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,103
- 2nd: £6,417
- 3rd: £3,213
- 4th: £1,602
- Form 2/1F116
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
prominent, led 4th, hit 8th, soon headed, lost place next, headway 12th, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next
- Form 34211P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey F Davis
led until 4th, prominent, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next, mistake 2 out
- Form 131129
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey S Byrne
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 1st or 3rd, led after 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 2nd beaten when fell last
- Form 521-135
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear, pulled hard, jumped right 2nd, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd 11th, hit next, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, clear last, easily
- Form 23-1160
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up in 5th, not fluent and reminder 8th, outpaced from 13th, well held after, stayed on from 2 out, left 3rd last
Sam Lord
23- Form 323-012
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey P Aspell
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, hit 12th, went 5th 13th, chased clear leading pair 4 out, jumped left 2 out, left 2nd when mistake last, no chance with winner
- Form 34PP41
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey M J McAlister
prominent, not fluent 2nd, outpaced after 12th, well held fom next, left 4th last
Verdict
GIORGIO QUERCUS has the beating of Stagecoach Pearl on their run together behind Captain Chris in the Arkle at Cheltenham and won over 2m2f over hurdles in France. He gets a tentative vote here, though stablemate Nadiya De La Vega could run him close with her mare's allowance as she has already won at Warwick and Kempton this season and was heavily eased last time in a novices' handicap at The Festival. Premier Sagas was pulled up in that race but should do better on this more conventional track while it would be no surprise to see Soft Spoken Guy run a lot better than his current rating might suggest.
Formwatch
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in last trio, struggling 8th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Premier Sagas (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Stagecoach Pearl 40-1 (11-7) Led to 8th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Gilbarry (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Hampered 1st, held up in 5th off the pace after and not fluent, reminders after 7th, weakened well before 3 out, 5th of 7, 46l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd.
Nadiya De La Vega (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 5th to 10th, led again 12th, hit and headed 3 out, weakened from next, 11th of 20, 21l behind Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Sam Lord 85-40 (11-5) Tracked leader, joined leader 6th, blundered next, led soon after, headed next, ridden and outpaced by winner from 2 out, 2nd of 3, 19l behind The Knoxs (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) gs in Mar.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) With leader, led 14th, clear approaching 2 out, eased after last, very easy, won at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs beating Flying Doctor (11-2) by 25l, 5 ran.