November 09 / 16.25 Ayr

16.25

Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3703.28
  • 2m 3f 110y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5-7661 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Moderate form in maiden/novice hurdles at around 2m earlier in the year; returned from a break to score when upped to 2m3f (good to soft) for his handicap debut over C&D last month, when he had plenty in hand; up 7lb for that but may still be well treated; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:55 Musselburgh

Hard Iron

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

prominent

11/8

1st

6

3rd Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

16:12 Catterick

Hard Iron

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

in touch with leaders

6/4

1st

5

9th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

16:25 Ayr

Hard Iron

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Moderate form in maiden/novice hurdles at around 2m earlier in the year; returned from a break to score when upped to 2m3f (good to soft) for his handicap debut over C&D last month, when he had plenty in hand; up 7lb for that but may still be well treated; big player.

10/11

9/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 6655-

Last run: 242 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Not devoid of promise on his hurdles debut at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) 13 months ago but well beaten in both subsequent starts; needs a big improvement on those last two efforts on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:25 Wetherby

Here Comes The Man

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Won in fine style on his chase debut at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) last April; strong claims if reproducing that form but hasn't been at the same level on his three starts since and needs to raise his game.

10/1

5th

5

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

12:30 Newcastle

Here Comes The Man

11st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Won in fine style on his chase debut over C&D (heavy); he'll be tough to beat if reproducing that form now back here, but he's been well beaten on his two starts since (3m/3m2f, soft) and has to turn things around.

8/1

6th

4

26th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 34y

Class 4

16:30 Carlisle

Here Comes The Man

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Point winner who impressed on his chase debut at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) in April; well beaten at Perth (3m, soft) 13 days later but that run may have come too soon and this lightly raced 8yo retains potential.

13/2

20/1

  • Place: £9.00

Form: 44-445

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise in a couple of bumpers when previously with this trainer; well beaten in two of his three hurdle races (both 2m) for Iain Jardine in September but did better over 2m5f on his penultimate run; may progress now entering handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

9th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

16:25 Ayr

Keep Coming

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Linda Perratt

Showed some promise in a couple of bumpers when previously with this trainer; well beaten in two of his three hurdle races (both 2m) for Iain Jardine in September but did better over 2m5f on his penultimate run; may progress now entering handicaps.

20/1

4th

3

14th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

15:40 Kelso

Keep Coming

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Iain Jardine

held up in behind leaders, pushed along when slow jump 2 out, soon outpaced

33/1

4th

6

5th Sep 2022

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Keep Coming

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Iain Jardine

held up in rear, behind when mistake 4th, soon lost touch

20/1

Form: /P720-

Last run: 246 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Went close to winning a heavy-ground 0-100 handicap hurdle at Wetherby (2m3f) in February on his penultimate start; failed to show much either side of that; had wind surgery in September; 4lb wrong today; more is needed from him but he's not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

29th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Economic Editor

10st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Adam Nicol

Maiden; twice runner-up over hurdles this season (soft/heavy); didn't jump with enough zip on recent chasing debut and faded out of contention; may do better with that experience behind him but will need to.

8/1

6th

13

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

17:10 Hexham

Economic Editor

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Adam Nicol

Modest form pointing in 2020; not particularly consistent over hurdles, but has shown his best form on testing ground so could go well in these conditions on his first run over fences.

9/1

Form: P4654-

Last run: 237 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Unplaced from nine starts; stays 2m7f and acts on soft; refused to line up on sole appearance for Ann Duffield; bought for £2,000 in three weeks ago; drops 2lb for this stable debut with a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:20 Perth

Wotsmyname

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Leonard Kerr

26-race maiden; ran well for a long way at Hexham (3m, good to soft) last month but ended up about 21l behind Ballydangan and is effectively 2lb higher here.

33/1

9th

12

14th Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:28 Hexham

Wotsmyname

10st 4lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Leonard Kerr

Unreliable longstanding maiden who was tailed off at Cartmel three weeks ago; opposable.

20/1

11

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Wotsmyname

10st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Leonard Kerr

0-24 under all codes and not very reliable but gave very good account when fourth from out of the weights at Kelso (2m7f, good) last month and is effectively 9lb lower from correct mark here; had excuse when pulled up last time (stirrup snapped); not ruled out.

11/1

Form: -52435 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner here (2m-2m5f; all soft or heavy); well treated based on chase form now returning to hurdles for the first time since last December but that recent hurdles form is not as strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

16:40 Ayr

Ardera Cross

10st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: William Young Jnr

Multiple course scorer but this veteran chaser has been pulled up on his last three runs, including over 2m here last time; hard to warm to.

50/1

4

6th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:35 Ayr

Ardera Cross

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: William Young Jnr

led, headed 5 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up before 4 out

25/1

4

6th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:35 Ayr

Ardera Cross

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: William Young Jnr

led, headed 5 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up before 4 out

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: -43122 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won a Chepstow novices' hurdle (2m3f, good) for Tom Lacey and a Cartmel handicap hurdle (2m6f, good to soft) when with Barbara Butterworth; 7-2 when 5l second (lost a shoe) on last month's debut for this trainer back there (2m4f, soft); needs improvement to defy this mark but should be competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:12 Cartmel

Benito

10st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Well below best since returning from a long layoff this year, most recently when never-dangerous sixth behind Top Flight Century at Perth (2m4f, good) 18 days ago, and is yet to add to his C&D win in 2022.

20/1

6th

8

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Perth

Benito

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Well below best since returning from a long layoff this year, and was tailed off in plating company when tried in a visor at Cartmel (2m1f) last time; cheekpieces are refitted here; needs to prove he still has what it takes.

20/1

11

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Benito

11st 0lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won over 2m6f here in 2022 and ought to cope better than some of these if the ground softens but has not shown a great deal since returning from a long layoff this year; wore cheekpieces the last time; visor tried today.

16/1

Form: 809P8-

Last run: 267 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Moderate maiden; hard to fancy from 23lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

18

2nd Jan 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:15 Ayr

Nordic Express

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Ian Duncan

Well beaten off lowly marks in two handicaps in November and is again a long way out of the weights today; wore blinkers last time; visor now tried.

100/1

9th

12

24th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

13:20 Kelso

Nordic Express

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ian Duncan

Little sign of ability and hard to fancy from so far out of the weights; blinkers now fitted.

66/1

8th

10

9th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

16:25 Ayr

Nordic Express

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ian Duncan

Moderate maiden; hard to fancy from 23lb out of the handicap.

100/1

Form: 09769-

Last run: 254 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Showed minor promise when big odds for a Carlisle novices' hurdle (2m1f, soft) on his penultimate start; took a backward step on his handicap debut over the same C&D latest; drops 4lb; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

0-18 over fences and hasn't been shaping of late as though a win is imminent; 10lb out of the handicap today and hard to fancy.

50/1

7th

11

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: R Mike Smith

0-19 over fences; ended a sequence failing to finish when a well-beaten fourth on first run back after a wind op at Ayr last time (3m, soft); 9lb out of the handicap and plenty to prove.

25/1

4th

6

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Scored over hurdles here back in 2023 but he remains winless over fences and was tongue tied when pulled up over C&D in January; needs a subsequent wind operation to spark major improvement.

25/1

Form: 23125- D BF

Last run: 201 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark at the eighth attempt in a Newcastle novices' hurdle (2m4f, good to soft) in March, when 3lb lower; unable to improve on that in two further starts last season; tongue-tie goes on for reappearance; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

The Jad Factor

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Inconsistent 10yo who was pulled up at Newcastle 19 days ago; however, he won here (2m4f, good) last April on the back of being pulled up twice in a row, so it will be no surprise to see him bounce back with a big run.

9/1

1

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

The Jad Factor

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Hasn't always been consistent but won twice last season, including over 2m4f here (good to soft); made a winning reappearance at Wetherby in December (2m3f, soft) and creditable staying-on fourth over 2m4f here last time; quite interesting back up in trip.

7/1

4th

3

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

15:10 Newcastle

The Jad Factor

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Not always one to rely upon but ended last season with 6l win at Kelso (2m4f, good) and rewarded persistent Patrick Wadge ride on reappearance outing at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in December; can feature if change of headgear helps to motivate him here.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.10
Straight Forecast £16.49
Tricast £375.19
Trifecta £280.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hard Iron

The Times:

Benito

TOPSPEED:

The Jad Factor

RP Ratings:

Hard Iron

POSTDATA:

Hard Iron

Telegraph:

Hard Iron

D Express:

Hard Iron

Daily Mirror:

Hard Iron

The Sun:

Hard Iron

The Star:

Hard Iron

Daily Record:

Hard Iron

Daily Mail:

Benito

The Guardian:

The Jad Factor