March 10 / 15.45 Ayr

15.45

Good

Good Luck Killie In Scottish Cup Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4547.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
RTV
View Course
Good Luck Killie In Scottish Cup Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 62-427

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Second in big-field Irish bumper last season and started off for new stable with two encouraging hurdle runs, latterly when second in C&D (good to soft) maiden in December; well beaten here on last month's handicap debut debut but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Thistle Ask

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Front-runner who has shown excellent progress over fences and whose record for current stable reads 11112, the last two wins in Grade 2 handicaps; collared by Jonbon in soft-ground Grade 1 at Ascot (2m1f) when last seen; may turn the tables returned to forecast ideal ground, being 5-5 on good; possibly hasn't reached his ceiling yet; respected.

7/4

2nd

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

15:30 Ascot

Thistle Ask

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

One of the success stories of the season, improving dramatically for new yard and rattling off four handicap wins (2m-2m3f, all on good); showed high-class form when routing six rivals at Kempton just after Christmas; impossible to discount, but he'll need another personal best in this higher grade and he also has to prove he's as effective on ground softer than good.

7/1

6

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Thistle Ask

10st 3lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Debut for this yard when making it 2-3 over fences with an all-the-way success last week at Kelso (2m1f, good), justifying odds of 5-4 on his return from a 265-day absence; 2lb well in even with the penalty and he's very lightly raced for an 8yo.

Evs

20/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 634

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when fourth of five against own age group at Kelso (2m, heavy) in January but the value of that form is open to question and others here have much more persuasive claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th May 2026

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:25 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 8lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won two of his last four, accounting for Snow Dragon at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft; from 4lb lower) in February; the snag is that the other two efforts were laboured ones, beaten 28l into fourth over 2m here (good) three weeks ago; this longer trip can assist.

8/1

4th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Inconsistent but won at Ayr (2m3f, heavy) in December and returned to form to win at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February on his latest start; ran well on good ground here last May and it's possible he'll cope with the drop back in trip; he can be in the shake-up if on another going day.

7/1

1st

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

16:50 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

11st 2lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Three-time winner, most recently at Ayr (2m3f) on penultimate start; however, by no means certain to repeat that form, being far from consistent otherwise.

12/1

25/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 6-5

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined George Bewley after good-ground Irish point win in October; just a mildly encouraging stable debut when well-held fifth at Catterick (2m3f, good) last month and might be one for a bit further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Lights Are Green

10st 13lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

C&D record of 2-7 includes victory in this race in 2023 off 5lb higher (good); pulled up in last year's renewal, however, and other results last term offer scant optimism on this return from seven months off.

25/1

5

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:33 Sedgefield

Lights Are Green

10st 5lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Has won off higher marks in the past but has regressed in four appearances this year; tried cheekpieces last time; others safer.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 9-

Last run: 489 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on bumper debut in 2021 and also struggled in a Flat maiden last spring; can only be watched on today's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

18th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Desert Stranger

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: R Mike Smith

Shaped with quite a bit more promise than eventual 42l defeat might suggest on hurdle debut at Ayr (2m, good) in March but never really got involved when seventh of eight over C&D last month.

14/1

7th

5

28th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

Desert Stranger

11st 2lb

J: William Shanahan

T: R Mike Smith

Well beaten all three career starts, the latest on hurdling debut seven weeks ago, after 11 months off.

66/1

4th

3

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Desert Stranger

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: R Mike Smith

Well beaten on bumper debut in 2021 and also struggled in a Flat maiden last spring; can only be watched on today's hurdling debut.

100/1

Form: 35 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat-racer who made satisfactory stable/hurdle debut when third of six at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in January; took backward step when favourite at Carlisle last month but could still have a future over jumps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

5th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:30 Musselburgh

Whitehaven

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Useful Flat-racer at his best; yet to fully transfer that ability to hurdles but he was a fair second behind an easy Irish-trained winner at Bangor (2m, heavy) three weeks ago and may still have more to offer in this code.

6/1

2nd

2

15th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

15:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Whitehaven

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Useful Flat-racer at his best; yet to build upon last winter's quite promising hurdling debut but, following a break, ran well to a point on recent handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft); sports first-time blinkers here and has possibilities if that recent outing brought him on.

4/1

7th

1

28th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:20 Sedgefield

Whitehaven

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Five wins at up to 2m on the Flat for Hughie Morrison and his final appearance was under that code when tailed off in the consolation race for the Chester Cup in May; had shown some ability over hurdles before then and now makes his handicap hurdle debut in a modest race.

9/2

33/1

Form: 000

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed significant ability on the Flat for Gavin Cromwell last year but well beaten in three slow-ground maiden hurdles for new stable this winter and needs today's switch to a forecast quicker surface to show him in a much better light; hood/tongue-tie removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

30th Aug 2023

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

18:50 Uttoxeter

Melnik

10st 9lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Not beaten far when sixth of eight on this month's stable debut at Worcester (2m, good) but his recent Bangor run was a backward step and he's now 0-7 over hurdles.

20/1

7th

8

21st Aug 2023

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

18:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Melnik

10st 7lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Fair Flat form in Ireland but just modest efforts over hurdles, including a 10l defeat on debut for this yard; may yet do better but others appeal more.

12/1

6th

5

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:10 Worcester

Melnik

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Fair Flat form in Ireland but just modest efforts over hurdles; still has time to do better and starts out for a new yard at a modest level; tongue-tie returns.

10/1

Form: 20-3U8

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dropped out very tamely here (2m3f, good to soft) 11 days ago but was still in contention before penultimate-flight unseat at Down Royal (2m1f, soft) in January, in a race that was eventually fought out by two useful horses, and the form of his bumper run in 2021 also reads very well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

17:35 Carlisle

Bellaney Lord

11st 12lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

0-8 under rules but comes here after winning open point at Friars Haugh (2m4f, good to soft) by 12l on last month's reappearance outing and is evidently in very good nick; no surprise if he features.

100/30

4th

2

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 205y

Class 5

16:50 Stratford

Bellaney Lord

11st 12lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

Dual winning pointer over 2m4f, the latest an easy success at Alnwick (good to soft) 15 days ago; this will demand more but he can't be dismissed after that latest performance.

11/1

Form: 7-PU

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when 250-1 for hurdle debut over C&D in December and unseated rider after swerving sharply left at first flight a fortnight ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

14

8th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ayr

Captain Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: R Mike Smith

0-7 in novice/maiden hurdles, completing only twice and showing no significant promise; makes handicap debut from a basement mark but still needs improvement.

50/1

8th

1

2nd Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Ayr

Captain Nelson

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: R Mike Smith

Showed no significant promise when a big-priced outsider for his three hurdling starts last spring; returns from a break today.

100/1

3

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

18:20 Cartmel

Captain Nelson

11st 2lb

J: William Shanahan

T: R Mike Smith

Has a tongue tie on for first time but significant improvement needed.

50/1

Form: 4-6

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has some fair Flat form on his CV but was tailed off after jumping poorly on hurdle debut in 2021 and finished last when given another go over hurdles at Kelso last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Dont Look Back

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

Won a Flat race in 2023 but is 0-21 over hurdles; tailed off on last two starts, admittedly in a maiden last time after four months off but he does not look a solid option; tongue tied first time.

33/1

8

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Dont Look Back

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

Won a Flat race in 2023 but is 0-21 over hurdles; tailed off on last two starts, admittedly in a maiden last time after four months off but he does not look a solid option; tongue tied first time.

33/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:18 Perth

Dont Look Back

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: William Young Jnr

Won on the Flat in 2023 but is 0-20 over hurdles, including several chances off lowly handicap marks; difficult to enthuse over.

50/1

Form: 1243 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in all three bumpers, most notably when winning by over 7l on debut at Kelso (good to soft) in November, and shaped with significant promise before weakening into well-held third behind two fairly useful rivals on last month's hurdling debut at Kelso (2m, good); ought to play a significant role here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Kingston Bridge

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

held up in last, not fluent 6th

25/1

8th

8

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Kingston Bridge

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

held up in last, not fluent 6th

25/1

10th

3

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Kingston Bridge

11st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

midfield

20/1

Form: 43UP-P

Last run: 272 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair form when placed in Navan handicap (2m6f, good) for Noel Meade in November 2021 but failed to complete all three subsequent chases for that stable and, following a layoff, made low-key debut for James Lambe in a point last month; current ability hard to gauge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

8th Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 100y

17:47 Kilbeggan

Skol

11st 12lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: J J Lambe

led narrowly, headed but prominent before 3rd

20/1

11th

11

1st Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

19:05 Down Royal

Skol

11st 7lb

J: Miss A McGuinness

T: J J Lambe

Struggling for form in light campaign in recent years but bit more encouraging here in June when staying on over 2m5f; still a good bit more required.

25/1

Form: 456

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat-bred mare who wasn't beaten far in any of her three bumpers but almost certainly needs to improve to land a significant blow on today's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Perth

Donso Star

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Consistent since her sole win (2m5f) and was a close third at Perth (2m4f) most recently; shapes as if she'll be suited by this new trip; solid.

4/1

3rd

2

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Donso Star

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Won at Ayr (2m5f, good) last March and went close over this C&D (soft) last April; returned from absence with fair fourth over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago and could build on that run; interesting.

5/1

3rd

2

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Donso Star

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Won at Ayr (2m5f, good) last March and went close over this C&D (soft) last April; returned from absence with fair fourth over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago and could build on that run; interesting.

5/1

Non-runners

Bellaney Lord, Kingston Bridge, Skol

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.60
Straight Forecast £20.97
Trifecta £110.20

Selections

RP Ratings:

Bellaney Lord

TOPSPEED:

Thistle Ask

SPOTLIGHT:

Kingston Bridge

POSTDATA:

Whitehaven

D Express:

Beat The Retreat

The Sun:

Kingston Bridge

The Times:

Thistle Ask

Daily Mail:

Thistle Ask

Telegraph:

Bellaney Lord

The Guardian:

Bellaney Lord

The Star:

Bellaney Lord

Daily Record:

Bellaney Lord

Daily Mirror:

Whitehaven