Tiger Can Roar At Ayr

Oriental Tiger is a horse that caught my eye earlier this year in his third maiden run, which came over  today's course and distance. He stayed on very strongly in the final furlong having been slightly outpaced a couple of furlongs from home. It was perhaps greenness that caused him to come off the bridle, because when his jockey gave him a couple of smacks he really took off, flying home for 3rd place.

The horse that won that day, Almodovar, went out and won a handicap off 80 on his next start, and subsequently went close off 87, so theoretically Oriental Tiger should be well able to win off 69 given that he was just 4 lengths behind the Lanigan horse that day. He was stepped up to 12f on his handicap debut off 71 and ran a stinker at Thirsk. He was much better at Hamilton on his next run, again over 12f, and was beaten just under 3 lengths into 2nd, fading in the closing stages having led 2f out.

It was the same story on his next run, again over 12f at Haydock, and this time he managed to get even closer to the winner, beaten less than 2 lengths in 3rd. He made eyecatching headway before his run again flattened out in the closing stages. It was surprising to see Mr.Goldie stepping him up in trip next time out, and over 13f at Hamilton he ran another stinker.

He is dropped back down to the trip he ran so well over in his maiden, and the return to Ayr also has to be seen as a positive. His full brother's only win came over 10f, which suggests that it may well turn out to be the perfect trip for Oriental Tiger. Fergal Lynch takes the ride for the first time, and off bottom weight in what looks a winnable handicap he looks worthy of supporting each way at 16/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: ORIENTAL TIGER 16/1`(E/W)