January 09 / 15.55 Ayr

15.55

Soft

Book For The Coral Scottish Grand National Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4547.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Book For The Coral Scottish Grand National Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
7-1, made the running and was a close second of six in a 3yo bumper over C&D (soft) on debut six weeks ago; open to improvement and he receives a handy 4yo allowance today; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Esprit Du Potier

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

He's run with credit this season on two of his three starts since returning from a long absence, returning to form when third of seven at Kelso (2m6f, good to soft) in December; his novice hurdle wins came on heavy ground and he could have more to offer now back up in trip; on the shortlist.

9/1

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Esprit Du Potier

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

4-10 under rules, posting a personal best when slamming four rivals in novice hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March 2024; in much deeper when down the field in Grade 1 novice at Aintree the following month, and has not been seen since; retains potential and will probably stay 3m, so he's quite an interesting candidate despite a lengthy absence.

9/2

11/4

  • Place: £3.60

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, soft) in December 2021 and sold for £31,000 six days later; absent since but Irish trainer has a very healthy strike-rate in Britain and he's respected on rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

21st Mar 2024

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 70y

16:33 Cork

Chance The Robin

10st 6lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

prominent, pressed leader 5th

6/1

2nd

2

16th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 193y

16:50 Thurles

Chance The Robin

11st 12lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: John C McConnell

Won both a bumper (heavy) and maiden hurdle at Hexham last season; returned in November and well held both starts in novice company; not a bad effort when fourth on handicap debut at Leopardstown.

8/1

4th

1

4th Mar 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

16:00 Leopardstown

Chance The Robin

12st 0lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Won both a bumper (heavy) and maiden hurdle at Hexham last season; returned in November and well held both starts in novice company; handicap debut and others preferred.

14/1

Form: 6

Last run: 258 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
66-1, promising sixth of 15 on debut at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) last April; open to improvement for in-form stable and he's firmly in calculations on this second start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

11

26th Dec 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

12:35 Leopardstown

Isenay

11st 12lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: S R B Crawford

Fair form in bumpers but beaten a long way in first two hurdle starts.

100/1

9th

14

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

12:32 Navan

Isenay

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: S R B Crawford

Promise in bumpers, including fair sixth on debut in 2022 Goffs Land Rover event; placed twice at Ayr early in the year; struggled over 2m4f here three weeks ago on hurdling debut.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dam unraced half-sister to the talented Aye Right, among others, and he came from the back of the field to finish a close second at 7-1 on debut over C&D (good to soft) in October; could build on that promising start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Lucky Soldier

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Fair novice; generally disappointing in handicaps last season, over fences on last two occasions; back over hurdles with cheekpieces tried; others appeal more.

14/1

5th

8

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Lucky Soldier

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Fair novice; generally disappointing in handicaps last season, over fences on last two occasions; back over hurdles with cheekpieces tried; others appeal more.

14/1

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

14:17 Carlisle

Lucky Soldier

11st 3lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: N W Alexander

mistake 1st, pulled up after 3rd

12/1

Form: 44

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made debut in October and has been a fair fourth on her first two starts (2m1f, heavy/soft); can give another good account but there's a suspicion she'll be vulnerable once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

14:20 Hexham

Lunar Glow

10st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal; dam 2m4f/3m hurdle winner (RPR 82), related to several Flat/hurdle winners; however, she makes her debut in what looks a warm race and she may be best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Bollin Matilda

11st 6lb

J: Miss J Walton

T: Donald Whillans

Consistent mare who got off the mark for the season in a valuable race at Musselburgh last time (3m, good to soft); chance off this 4lb higher mark.

5/2

1st

14

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Bollin Matilda

10st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

She's 3lb out of the handicap but has been running well since December, twice going close over C&D (good to soft/soft); each-way possible.

10/1

2nd

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 4

14:47 Ayr

Bollin Matilda

10st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald Whillans

Made the frame on last three appearances, most recently when close/clear second to unexposed rival at Musselburgh (3m, soft; first-time tongue-tie) three weeks ago; nudged up only 2b for that; might be the answer.

6/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.10
Straight Forecast £38.67
Trifecta £58.70

Selections

The Times:

Lucky Soldier

RP Ratings:

Esprit Du Potier

SPOTLIGHT:

Isenay

The Guardian:

Chance The Robin

POSTDATA:

Esprit Du Potier

Daily Record:

Esprit Du Potier

Daily Mail:

Lucky Soldier

Daily Mirror:

Lucky Soldier

The Sun:

Lucky Soldier

The Star:

Lucky Soldier

Telegraph:

Isenay

D Express:

Chance The Robin