January 02 / 13.45 Ayr

13.45

Heavy

Jim ‘Havana’ McPherson Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 3m 0f 20y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Jim ‘Havana’ McPherson Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.90

Form: 4242-6 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Well-preserved 13yo who has been sparingly raced; course winner at 2m4f but suited by 3m and acts well in the mud; came home in his own time at Cheltenham recently but this asks an easier question of him and he's weighted to go well for in-form yard on the best of last winter's form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Up Helly Aa King

10st 10lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Two wins last season, at Ayr in January (3m, soft) and on final start at Kelso in April (2m7f, soft); off since and although these conditions suit, is likely to need the run after a break.

7/1

7

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Up Helly Aa King

10st 10lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Two wins last season, at Ayr in January (3m, soft) and on final start at Kelso in April (2m7f, soft); off since and although these conditions suit, is likely to need the run after a break.

7/1

4

15th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 3

15:30 Kelso

Up Helly Aa King

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Veteran who remains very capable on his day, with a first and close second this season; below best last time but could bounce back from that.

9/1

5/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 4523-2 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Two chase wins from 15 attempts, both in novice company; had a mixed year in 2023 off similar marks to today's but he wasn't far off his best when runner-up over C&D last month (soft); may not be especially well treated even now but this is the right level; involved again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Marown

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

12yo who is without a win since 2021 and is going beyond 3m1f for the first time; however, having dropped down the weights, he took a step back in the right direction when third over Carlisle's stiff 3m recently and his trainer does very well with veterans; not discounted.

14/1

3rd

5

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Marown

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Remains without a victory since 2021 and he's been pulled up on his last three runs, most recently in 2m7f Newcastle handicap in January; he's not easy to make a case for.

14/1

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:35 Newcastle

Marown

11st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

12yo who needs to prove how much ability he retains; however, he's well handicapped on his best 2024 efforts and he may have needed the run at Aintree three months ago following an absence (pulled up); not written off.

8/1

Form: P33-33 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Two novice hurdle wins at about 2m5f; has convinced with her jumping since switched to fences and lost out only late on chase debut at Carlisle (3m2f, soft); another good effort at Catterick since and this may well take less winning; every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 4

14:50 Ayr

Anti Bridgie

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

A fairly useful winning hurdler/chaser but she has been pulled up all three starts over fences this season, latest at Huntingdon (3m) in January; has lots to prove back in this sphere.

25/1

7

23rd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

15:40 Huntingdon

Anti Bridgie

11st 5lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

raced in second behind clear leader, reminders and lost position with one circuit to go, dropped to rear 14th, struggling when eased and pulled up after 15th

20/1

7

23rd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

15:40 Huntingdon

Anti Bridgie

11st 5lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

raced in second behind clear leader, reminders and lost position with one circuit to go, dropped to rear 14th, struggling when eased and pulled up after 15th

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2P0-1U

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Smart 3m hunter chase form last winter but highly tried in that department in the spring; exploited a lowly hurdle mark in minor Navan handicap on return (2m6f, soft/heavy) but unseated halfway back over the big Aintree fences since; should be a player for yard that won this last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 165y

20:00 Downpatrick

Dorking Cock

12st 0lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Has won three over hurdles and fences; ran well at times in defeat in points and hunter chases last season but has to do much better today.

12/1

4

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Dorking Cock

12st 0lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: S R B Crawford

prominent behind clear leader

20/1

4

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Dorking Cock

12st 0lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: S R B Crawford

prominent behind clear leader

20/1

Form: /3458/ D

Last run: 723 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner in 2019; lightly raced since and although capable of useful staying hurdle form in his home country he ended his latest campaign on a low; having first run for two years but not impossible he'll go well for new yard; check the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

2nd Jan 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 20y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Mr Josiey Wales

11st 8lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner in 2019; lightly raced since and although capable of useful staying hurdle form in his home country he ended his latest campaign on a low; having first run for two years but not impossible he'll go well for new yard; check the market.

14/1

Form: 13-F55

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Chase win last March was over 2m4f but she's a stout stayer; not yet lived up to her hurdle promise since chasing but still has potential, dropped 5lb since her first completion this winter, and in a lower grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Haute Estime

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Only beaten 4l in this last year when 5lb higher and best run since was her latest when runner-up at Kelso (3m2f); although some 14l off the winner, she was on the back foot after early interference and ran well all things considered; respected.

8/1

10

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Haute Estime

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Only beaten 4l in this last year when 5lb higher and best run since was her latest when runner-up at Kelso (3m2f); although some 14l off the winner, she was on the back foot after early interference and ran well all things considered; respected.

8/1

3

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

15:13 Kelso

Haute Estime

11st 8lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Lucinda Russell

Placed off 3lb higher in North Wales National at Bangor (3m5f, heavy) in February but has been well beaten on all three starts since, most recently when upped to 4m and fitted with cheekpieces (retained) for Borders National here three weeks ago; needs to turn a corner.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.50
Straight Forecast £33.37
Trifecta £88.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Marown

SPOTLIGHT:

Anti Bridgie

TOPSPEED:

Up Helly Aa King

The Times:

Anti Bridgie

D Express:

Anti Bridgie

Daily Mirror:

Anti Bridgie

POSTDATA:

Marown

The Guardian:

Marown

Daily Mail:

Marown

The Sun:

Marown

The Star:

Marown

Daily Record:

Marown

Telegraph:

Up Helly Aa King