AYR (18 Jul 2005)

Good

3:45 Glasgow Gala Casinos Handicap (3) (3yo+,0-95)

[off 3:47] £9,552.40, £2,939.20, £1,469.60, £734.80 1m

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Sound Breeze (7) M Johnston 3 8-9 K Darley 11/8F 82 — —

2 5 Vicious Warrior (1) R M Whitaker 6 9-4 Dean McKeown 7/1 83 — —

3 nk Dr Thong (5) P F I Cole 4 9-1 S Drowne 8/1 80 — —

4 ¾ Jordans Elect (4) I Semple 5 8-10 R Winston 11/1 75 — —

5 shd Middlemarch (IRE) (6) J S Goldie 5 9-11 b F Lynch 12/1 90 — —

6 2 Celticello (IRE) (2) M A Jarvis 3 9-0 K Fallon 3/1 87 — —

7 6 Khanjar (USA) (3) K R Burke 5 8-11 Darren Williams 33/1 76 — —

7 ran TIME 1m 39.73s (slow by 0.23s) TOTAL SP 109%

NON RUNNER: Kelucia (IRE)

1st OWNER: M P Burke BRED: M P B Bloodstock Ltd TRAINER: M Johnston

2nd OWNER: Alan Crossan

3rd OWNER: Frank Stella

TOTE TRIFECTA Pool: £614.00. 11.40 winning tickets. WIN £2.30 PL £1.40, £3.20; Ex £12.70; CSF £10.63; TRICAST £49.68Pool: £614.00. 11.40 winning tickets.

ANALYSIS: A fair gallop to this mile handicap which was won in fine style by SOUND BREEZE, who travelled well in behind the leaders, and quickened up to go clear over 2f out to score in the style of a well-handicapped and progressive performer. He's certainly going to find things tougher when re-handicapped but he'll look well in with a penalty if turning out next week, and is one to watch out for at Goodwood.

That said, it's difficult quite to know what to make of the form as the improving Celticello, who looked the main threat to the winner beforehand, didn't run his race as he was struggling over 2f out, and though hampered late on, was beaten at the time. He may need more give.

Vicious Warrior, doesn't win that often, but he's in decent form having run creditably at York on his previous start, and though he was no match for the winner, he kept on well for second ahead of Dr Thong, who never really got into it, but shaped better on this ground than on very fast ground at Catterick on his reappearance.