February 24 / 14.55 Ayr

14.55

Soft

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 132F2 BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Down Royal bumper winner for Stuart Crawford in May (2m1f, good); has run well in all three completed starts over hurdles, notably last time when 4l second in a novice handicap at Sandown (2m4f, soft); the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Marlacoo

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Won an Irish bumper and added an Ayr maiden hurdle last season; beaten seven times since that last win despite heading the market but did run well with the visor back on at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago; should be involved once more.

100/30

3rd

9

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Marlacoo

11st 5lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Irish bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in Ayr maiden (about 2m3f, heavy) just over a year ago; expensive to follow subsequently and it was a moderate effort when sixth of eight over this sort of trip at Catterick (soft) last time; doesn't look the percentage call.

10/1

6th

5

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

15:00 Catterick

Marlacoo

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Irish bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in an Ayr maiden (2m3f, heavy) last February; two decent placed efforts this term, following wind surgery, in first-time visor latest (left off here); a possible.

11/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2-424

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
In the frame on all four starts, last three over hurdles; suffered from post-race heat stress when 12l fourth over 3m here last time; drop back in trip should suit; solid each-way chance
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:13 Carlisle

Orkney Blue

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: N W Alexander

Won a C&D handicap on good to soft when back from a break in February; excuses for lesser run last time (heat stress); could bounce back.

11/2

3rd

1

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 4

13:50 Ayr

Orkney Blue

12st 1lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: N W Alexander

Lightly raced 8yo who showed improved form on his third chase start to win at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) recently; also effective on soft/heavy; accounted for 13 rivals last time and he's a strong candidate up 6lb.

2/1

1st

1

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:04 Carlisle

Orkney Blue

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: N W Alexander

Flopped at Hexham in December on second chase start and something to prove on the back of that; however, this lightly raced bumper and two-time maiden hurdle runner-up wasn't devoid of promise when sixth on his chase/handicap debut at Kelso (2m7f, soft) in November and is not written off.

11/1

Form: 5-5

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won Irish point in November 2023 (3m, yielding); fair form when fifth in a Newcastle bumper and fifth in a maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) but needs to improve for this step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Mountain Molly

10st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won novice hurdle at Perth (2m4f, good) last September and good second off this mark there (2m4f, soft) next time; however, she wasn't quite at the same level in the winter and needs something extra now in cheekpieces.

20/1

5th

4

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

Mountain Molly

11st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner who wasn't beaten far into second behind Diamond Geezer on handicap hurdle debut at Perth (2m4f, soft) in October; hasn't taken to fences subsequently and she could play a leading role now back hurdling.

8/1

3

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:30 Wetherby

Mountain Molly

11st 12lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point winner who won a novice hurdle at Kelso (2m4f, good) in September and went close in a handicap there (2m4f, soft) next time; awkward at the first fence and reportedly never travelling when well beaten on chase debut at Musselburgh last month, which is a concern, but she retains potential.

13/2

Form: /5-263

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Good second to a subsequent Grade 2 winning hurdler in a Kelso bumper last May (2m, good); better of his two runs over hurdles when third over 2m here last time (soft; stayed on); step up in trip will suit; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Highland Fashion

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

His first run at about 3m when winning at Newcastle (good to soft) and then ran second at Warwick; latest Musselburgh run wasn't too shoddy given he was held up off the pace before staying on and he reportedly bled that day; had a break since and wouldn't be fully exposed as a stayer.

12/1

7th

13

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Highland Fashion

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Ian Duncan

Relished the step up in trip to make a winning handicap debut at Newcastle (3m, good to soft) in November; good second at Ayr (3m, soft) one month ago but position 3lb out of the handicap demands more from him today; claiming rider is recruited.

12/1

Form: 3565

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair efforts in two bumpers (third at Hexham on first occasion) and in two races over hurdles (16l fifth of nine at Carlisle last time); a possible but may be one for handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Blakey Boy

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

Took a sizeable step forward when winning over C&D (soft) in February and he followed up at Kelso (3m2f, good to soft) four weeks ago; he's 5lb higher than last time and is in much more competitive race today, but this progressive 6yo could still have more left in the tank.

11/1

1st

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:13 Kelso

Blakey Boy

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

Has made steady progress in the cheekpieces and would have won anyway last time at Ayr after being left clear late on (3m, soft); 4lb out of the weights so he's 9lb higher this time and in a stronger race to boot.

5/2

Form: 682P59

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Exposed maiden over hurdles and fences and is facing a stiff task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:25 Perth

Ideal De Romay

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Leonard Kerr

towards rear

100/1

12

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:25 Perth

Ideal De Romay

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Leonard Kerr

towards rear

100/1

14th

15

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Ideal De Romay

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Leonard Kerr

prominent, hit 6th, not fluent 8th

66/1

Non-runners

Auchinlek, Jet Far

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £3.72
Trifecta £9.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Marlacoo

The Times:

Mountain Molly

SPOTLIGHT:

Orkney Blue

POSTDATA:

Orkney Blue

Telegraph:

Marlacoo

Daily Mail:

Marlacoo

D Express:

Marlacoo

Daily Mirror:

Marlacoo

The Star:

Marlacoo

Daily Record:

Marlacoo

The Guardian:

Mountain Molly

The Sun:

Mountain Molly