May 23 / 20.00 Ayr

20.00

Good

Book Unite Scotland Summer Raceday Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 0m 7f 50y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Book Unite Scotland Summer Raceday Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 66649- CD

Last run: 225 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won C&D maiden last April then followed up in AW handicap; even better form when narrowly denied at York (7f, good) by subsequent Sandringham winner at Royal Ascot; had quiet end to season but is on a 2lb lower mark than at York so a case can be made.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

5

(15)

24th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

17:20 York

Espressoo

9st 8lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Has made the running for two of her three 7f wins, the latest at Ayr in May (good; off 5lb lower); has since run well in 1m Listed event but her effort was short-lived back in a handicap at Goodwood 23 days ago (1m, good to soft); no easier task today.

25/1

13th

3

(4)

1st Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:05 Goodwood

Espressoo

9st 11lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

led

10/1

2nd

3

(6)

11th Jul 2023

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 1

15:20 Pontefract

Espressoo

9st 2lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Made all in handicap at Ayr (7f, good) in May on reappearance but soundly beaten fifth in Listed race at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm); unproven at 1m and best form is on good/faster; limitations may be exposed once more.

12/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 5113-4 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of favourable handicapping when winning twice over 7f at Musselburgh in August (good); current mark is probably at the upper end of his weights range but he tends to come to hand early and should come on for a recent Musselburgh run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(9)

3rd Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Manigordo

9st 7lb

J: Sam Hitchcott

T: Adrian Nicholls

Losing run up to 15 and has regressed for this yard in the past year or so; makes his Polytrack debut tonight and is hard to fancy on recent efforts.

25/1

19

29th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell (AW)

Manigordo

9st 1lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Adrian Nicholls

12th

10

(6)

16th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Thirsk

Manigordo

9st 5lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Adrian Nicholls

Won over 7.5f at Beverley in June 2023 on good to firm when with Tim Easterby; bit disappointing for new yard this term, but fair run last time and on a good mark now; a possible.

10/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 762-03

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Both wins for Charles Hills came over 6f but effective at 7f and he stepped up plenty on a low-key debut for this yard when involved in a tight finish at Musselburgh last week; can be thereabouts again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

(8)

13th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

13:40 Chester

Touchwood

10st 5lb

J: Miss Charli Parker

T: Ruth Carr

Ended a losing run in 7f AW Lingfield handicap eight days ago; had a bit up his sleeve there so is very much one to consider under a 4lb penalty.

8/1

5

(9)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield (AW)

Touchwood

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Ruth Carr

Acts well over C&D but hasn't been back here since impressive win in 2023; on a handy mark and of interest after a good Leicester run in May, with Oisin Murphy a rare booking for the yard (0-1 in last five years).

7/2

5

(9)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield (AW)

Touchwood

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Ruth Carr

Acts well over C&D but hasn't been back here since impressive win in 2023; on a handy mark and of interest after a good Leicester run in May, with Oisin Murphy a rare booking for the yard (0-1 in last five years).

7/2

Form: 782-41 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Front-running winner of three of his last six 7f starts (good/good to firm) and quite impressive with the way he injected pace at a crucial stage over C&D last time out; on career-high mark in a higher grade but can give it a good shot again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(1)

12th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Judgment Call

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: Linda Perratt

Has been kept busy since winning over C&D off a 2lb lower mark in December; went in again at Southwell on Tuesday evening and needs respect.

8/1

1st

4

(2)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Judgment Call

9st 9lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Linda Perratt

Not the most consistent but still capable on his day, as when winning a 6f handicap at Newcastle in December (2lb higher today); handy draw and no surprise to see him show up well.

14/1

7th

6

(2)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:26 Southwell (AW)

Judgment Call

9st 6lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Linda Perratt

Sole win from 18 starts on the AW came at Newcastle (6f, AW) in December and bounced back to form when runner-up there ten days ago; makes each-way appeal returned to 7f off a 2lb lower mark (4lb well in).

8/1

Form: 526-25 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Winning debut on AW; useful 7f handicap form on Tapeta in April and perhaps failed to handle soft ground when only fifth on turf debut at Doncaster this month; plenty of time for him to do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(5)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:12 Chester

How Impressive

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

Seven-time AW winner but sole turf win was in 2023 and he was tailed off back in this sphere at Catterick (7f, good) in May; has something to prove after another break and others are preferred.

20/1

12th

4

(8)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

14:30 Catterick

How Impressive

10st 0lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Hugo Palmer

Runner-up at Kempton (7f, AW) two starts ago and he has a 9lb lower mark to work with on turf; however, he's been inconsistent this year and his sole turf win (from 15 attempts) came back in 2023.

8/1

9th

3

(8)

11th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:15 Southwell (AW)

How Impressive

9st 8lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Hugo Palmer

Two-time C&D winner; solid efforts in defeat on his last two starts; still feasibly weighted but happiest when dominating and a few of these like to force the pace.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-2640 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Downbeat in the Victoria Cup at Ascot even allowing for the race being so competitive; on handy mark, though, and had previously shown more life at Newmarket (7f, good) so ought to have a good run in him down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(9)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 3

13:55 York

Darkness

10st 2lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Has won over 1m but raced mainly at 7f; not solid on 2026 form and he came up short when a 50-1 shot in big field at York most recently; opposed in another competitive race, back up in trip.

25/1

11th

4

(2)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:25 York

Darkness

9st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David O’Meara

He won two 7f handicaps last season and took a step back in the right direction with close sixth of 12 at Haydock in April; however, well beaten at Newmarket since and others arrive with less to prove.

33/1

Form: 44-262 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won over 7f in 2019 but five subsequent wins have come in sprints and the usual scenario at this trip these days is that others are stronger finishers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(2)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

14:35 Musselburgh

Black Friday

8st 13lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

11th

12

(2)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

14:35 Musselburgh

Black Friday

8st 13lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

4th

8

(5)

14th Oct 2024

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

16:20 Musselburgh

Black Friday

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

Latest of multiple wins came at 7f last August; below par lately, including behind The Gay Blade over C&D 12 days ago, but won in cheekpieces earlier in career and they're refitted for the first time since 2022.

20/1

9/2

Form: 4512-3 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Usually kept to sprint trips but won over C&D in September in only his fourth attempt at 7f and there was no sign of weakening when coming from off the pace to finish third to Judgment Call over C&D on reappearance; has 4lb turnaround and may have more to come at the trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(9)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 4

15:25 Hamilton

Classy Al

8st 11lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Quirky customer with two C&D wins on his record and now 6lb lower than for last July's success; running himself into form this year but his stable look to hold stronger claims elsewhere.

12/1

4th

6

(6)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 7y

Class 4

16:05 Hamilton

Classy Al

8st 10lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Does plenty wrong during his races but it hasn't stopped him from winning seven times, two of them over C&D; running himself back into form this year but others appeal more.

12/1

4th

3

(7)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Ayr

Classy Al

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

No stranger to the Ayr winners' enclosure, winning five at this track (5f-7f), including this race two years ago; has struggled for form in two 5f spins at Musselburgh this year, which makes him hard to fancy; on the plus side, the handicapper is beginning to give him a chance.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.00
Straight Forecast £32.55
Tricast £239.09
Trifecta £315.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Classy Al

RP RATINGS:

Judgment Call

The Guardian:

Manigordo

D Express:

Touchwood

SPOTLIGHT:

Darkness

The Sun:

Black Friday

POSTDATA:

Classy Al

The Times:

Classy Al

Telegraph:

Classy Al

Daily Mail:

Classy Al

Daily Mirror:

Judgment Call

Daily Record:

Judgment Call

The Star:

Manigordo