Racecards
15:30 Ayr
El Toro Grande Dos Handicap (div 2) (Class 6)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £2,500 added
- Form 173450
- Age 5
- Weight 9-13
soon pushed along in rear, never a factor
- Form 143514
- Age 7
- Weight 9-12
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey Paul Eddery
raced wide in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 547
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Greg Fairley
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 2-26802
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey T Hamilton
in touch, went 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden and hung left, driven inside final furlong, headed post
- Form 7-00606
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer L Smyth
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
soon pushed along in mid-divison, never a factor
- Form 19985-0
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer Mrs R Carr
- Jockey P McDonald
dwelt, soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied to lead post
- Form 880055
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey Andrew Heffernan
soon pushed along in mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong
Verdict
Crocodile Bay has to be respected with some decent efforts of late including wins on the turf and the all-weather within the last two months whilst Bed Fellow only lost out by a head last time but our attentions turn to WHISPERING SPIRIT who despite running off top weight can score today. Ann Duffield sends our selection on a four-hour journey north for this race with the pick having put in some good tries on the all-weather of late. She runs in the visor again with the jockey providing assistance too in the form of his claim. Although the pick's trainer doesn't have the best of records at this course, if translating a winning run at Kempton to the turf today, Whispering Spirit could be the one to beat. Crocodile Bay may represent the biggest danger having also shown bits and pieces of form this year. He won at Wolverhampton earlier in the month with Paul Eddery in the saddle and he retains the ride today. Bed Fellow ran well in a slowly-run race at Hamilton last time just losing out by a head to Stellite, but he had a big advantage in the weights that day and given some poor efforts at this course earlier in the year we avoid him. Our selection is Whispering Spirit.
Formwatch
Transmission (IRE) 5-1fav (9-2) Soon pushed along in rear, never a factor, 12th of 15, 23l behind Academy Blues (9-4) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Apr.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 13, 5l behind Gemma's Delight (8-3) at Chester 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Rosbertini 10-1 (9-3) Keen tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 9, well behind Stellite (9-6) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Amity (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, effort over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 7, 15l behind Christmas Light (9-0) at York 7f fll mdn stks (4) gf.
Bed Fellow (IRE) 28-1 (8-5) Keen held up, headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 9, hd behind Stellite (9-6) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Secret Hero 14-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, headway when switched right 1f out, stayed on near finish, 6th of 14, 8l behind Frontline Girl (9-6) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Only A Splash 20-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 14, 10l behind Frontline Girl (9-6) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Red Dagger (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Behind, switched outside over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 9, 7l behind Bidable (8-13) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Primo Way 40-1 (8-6) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, switched left and headway over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 12, 5l behind Red Skipper (8-7) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Whispering Spirit (IRE) 5-2 (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden 1f out, weakened and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Dream Win (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jun.