April 17 / 14.20 Ayr

14.20

Soft

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8185.55
  • 2m 0f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.40
  • Place: £2.40

Form: -352FP D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Two-time novice hurdle winner who ran well in defeat this term on two of his first three chase starts (1m7f/2m, soft/good) and is on a handy mark on that form; he's struggled on his last two runs and has something to prove but perhaps the wind op and first-time cheekpieces will make a difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Pleasington

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Two-time novice hurdle winner who ran well in defeat this term on two of his first three chase starts (1m7f/2m, soft/good) and is on a handy mark on that form; he's struggled on his last two runs and has something to prove but perhaps the wind op and first-time cheekpieces will make a difference.

13/2

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Pleasington

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Olly Murphy

Has two pieces of encouraging form since switched to fences, including a Newbury effort (2m) that suggests he should be suited by 2m4f; disappointing favourite (looked beaten when falling) at Wetherby last time but it's difficult to write off this low-mileage 8yo, who represents last year's winning stable.

11/1

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:20 Wetherby

Pleasington

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Low mileage on the clock for this two-time heavy-ground hurdle winner who is improving; close third on his chase debut here (1m7f, soft); still in it at Aintree next time (2m4f, soft) when a mistake two out cost him; career-best effort latest at Newbury (2m; good); big player back up in trip.

9/4

12/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: -13162 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Made it two wins for the season when scoring over C&D (soft) in January and bounced back from lesser run here when 1l second of five over C&D (soft) last month; could give another good account but he needs to be better than ever back up in grade if he's to win today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Ballyfort

10st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Made it two wins for the season when scoring over C&D (soft) in January and bounced back from lesser run here when 1l second of five over C&D (soft) last month; could give another good account but he needs to be better than ever back up in grade if he's to win today.

12/1

2nd

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:07 Ayr

Ballyfort

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Two wins this season, on good ground at Kelso and soft over C&D; still on a competitive mark if a line can be put through his latest effort when tailed off over this C&D.

5/2

20/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 621416 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Progressive in cheekpieces, winning at Sedgefield in November (2m1f, soft; hurdles) and March (2m, good; fences); should appreciate going back left-handed after being soundly beaten at Carlisle last time but he's 8lb out of the handicap today and the cheekpieces are left off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Tanking Along

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Made all at Sedgefield (2m, good) in March and placed on last two starts, most recently runner-up at Kelso (2m1f, good) last week; the step back up in trip poses a question but he's a leading player if seeing it out.

9/4

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Tanking Along

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Two wins at Sedgefield last season, the second a 2m1f handicap chase (good); went up 6lb for that and was put up another 7lb for finishing 4l third from 8lb out of the handicap at Ayr last month (2m, soft); could go well despite that rise.

7/2

3rd

9

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Tanking Along

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Progressive in cheekpieces, winning at Sedgefield in November (2m1f, soft; hurdles) and March (2m, good; fences); should appreciate going back left-handed after being soundly beaten at Carlisle last time but he's 8lb out of the handicap today and the cheekpieces are left off.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 263212 BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Beaten on first seven chase starts but showed improved form to win comfortably at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in February and he bumped into a progressive winner there (2m3f, soft) last month, when clear of the third; there can be optimism that he will be fine back down in trip and he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Risk De Pluie

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

Beaten on first seven chase starts but showed improved form to win comfortably at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in February and he bumped into a progressive winner there (2m3f, soft) last month, when clear of the third; there can be optimism that he will be fine back down in trip and he's respected.

6/1

2nd

1

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Risk De Pluie

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Fully deserved his breakthrough chase success over C&D (soft) under Toby McCain-Mitchell last month; the style of his win suggests he will be a major player again off a 7lb higher mark.

2/1

Form: 007945 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Hard to fancy on the evidence of his four runs over fences this year; however, he's well handicapped on last summer's hurdle form and he's from a respected Irish stable; one to watch in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 110y

17:55 Tramore

Stuntman Steve

11st 8lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Two-time hurdles winner is 0-5 in chases; out of form in 2026 but has yet to get his favoured good ground; could go well in first-time cheekpieces with conditions to suit.

7/1

5th

7

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Stuntman Steve

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Hard to fancy on the evidence of his four runs over fences this year; however, he's well handicapped on last summer's hurdle form and he's from a respected Irish stable; one to watch in the betting.

13/2

Form: P-111F D BF

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; made mistakes and was under pressure when falling three out at Haydock (2m4f, soft) two months ago; however, he was 3-3 in handicap chases (1m7f-2m4f, soft/good to soft) previously and this very lightly raced 7yo may still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Throatlash

11st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Front-runner; made mistakes and was under pressure when falling three out at Haydock (2m4f, soft) two months ago; however, he was 3-3 in handicap chases (1m7f-2m4f, soft/good to soft) previously and this very lightly raced 7yo may still have more to offer.

11/2

8

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Throatlash

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Lightly raced 7yo who hasn't looked back since having wind surgery, readily completing a hat-trick over C&D four weeks ago; up another 5lb but that form has been franked so this sound-jumping front-runner rates a big player.

11/4

1st

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

12:15 Haydock

Throatlash

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

3m point winner who made winning handicap debut at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) in November on second chase start and followed up at Aintree (2m, good to soft); this very lightly raced 7yo could be even better now up in trip.

5/2

Form: 225-11 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Built upon his hurdling promise to win on chase/seasonal debut at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in January and he followed up there (2m, good to soft) in February; climbing the weights but this unexposed 7yo had something to spare for both wins and may well have more left in the tank.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

The Grafter

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Built upon his hurdling promise to win on chase/seasonal debut at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in January and he followed up there (2m, good to soft) in February; climbing the weights but this unexposed 7yo had something to spare for both wins and may well have more left in the tank.

100/30

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; heavy ground could have been a factor in him showing improved form on his successful chase debut over C&D last month, though was well backed prior to comfortably repelling Spadestep; 9lb worse off with the runner-up but clearly open to further improvement.

11/4

1st

4

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Maiden; runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; has no easy task on chase debut having been off for 278 days.

8/1

Form: -11375 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won his first two chase starts in January (2m, good/good to soft) under Jonjo O'Neill, who is back on board today; disappointing at Newbury on his last two outings but the first was a tough assignment over 2m4f and he jumped badly last time; it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Koukeo

11st 5lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won his first two chase starts in January (2m, good/good to soft) under Jonjo O'Neill, who is back on board today; disappointing at Newbury on his last two outings but the first was a tough assignment over 2m4f and he jumped badly last time; it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back.

11/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Koukeo

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Made encouraging start over fences with convincing victory at Windsor (2m, good) on New Year's Day, and he followed up at Haydock (2m, good to soft) two weeks later; however, the wheels came off when he went up in grade for the Greatwood here three weeks ago, and he was beaten before stamina became a factor; 5lb higher than for his second win and needs to get back on track.

9/2

7th

11

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Koukeo

10st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Beaten favourite, albeit far from discredited, at Musselburgh last time when bidding to take his chase record (all over 2m) to 3-3; may still have more to offer and this return to further is worth a go (2m5f hurdles winner); steps up in class but receives weight all round; could go well.

10/1

Form: 741111 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer who made it 4-4 for 2026 (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft/good) at Carlisle last month; won by 3l last time and a 7lb rise may not stop this thriving 8yo, provided the forecast soft ground isn't an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Marty McFly

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Prominent racer who made it 4-4 for 2026 (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft/good) at Carlisle last month; won by 3l last time and a 7lb rise may not stop this thriving 8yo, provided the forecast soft ground isn't an issue.

4/1

1st

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Marty McFly

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Improving chaser who has won his last three, the first two at 2m4f/2m3f but last time coping fine with the sharper test of 1m7f around Catterick (good); up in grade here with a 7lb rise to deal with but he's got major momentum behind him.

9/2

1st

1

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

15:10 Catterick

Marty McFly

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Won novice handicaps at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) and here (2m3f, good to soft) in January; down in trip (won over 2m over hurdles) and on a career-high mark (went up 6lb for last win) but a contender.

2/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £78.80
Straight Forecast £67.96
Tricast £1008.07
Trifecta £1062.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Grafter

POSTDATA:

Marty McFly

TOPSPEED:

Pleasington

RP RATINGS:

Throatlash

D Express:

Risk De Pluie

Telegraph:

Stuntman Steve

Daily Mail:

Pleasington

The Times:

The Grafter

Daily Mirror:

The Grafter

The Star:

The Grafter

Daily Record:

The Grafter

The Guardian:

Marty McFly

The Sun:

Marty McFly