October 29 / 16.18 Ayr

16.18

Good To Soft

Marine Troon Hotel & Spa Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7624.4
  • 2m 0f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Marine Troon Hotel & Spa Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 7111P- D

Last run: 204 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Thrived in his first campaign over fences, maintaining his unbeaten record when completing a hat-trick at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft; just as effective at 2m) in March; down the field back over hurdles at Aintree in April, but he may still have untapped potential in this sphere and he reappears with his stable in fine form; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.70

Form: U1116- CD

Last run: 227 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Progressive 2m chaser last term, winning in small fields at Fontwell, here and at Wetherby, all under Lewis Dobb; far from disgraced to finish sixth of 16 in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham on final start; will need another personal best to get back on the winning trail but that's certainly possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

18th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 3

14:25 Wetherby

Hasankey

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders

7/1

5th

6

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 1

13:15 Ayr

Hasankey

11st 2lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

Better than the bare result when fourth of 13 at Aintree (2m, good; came from rear after early mistake) last week; that followed a good second at Warwick and suggests his current mark is still workable; has an impressive record (a win, a second and a third from three runs) at Ayr and should go well.

13/2

4th

11

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Hasankey

11st 1lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

Hat-trick at about this trip last midwinter (on heavy/soft) but in the meantime has all too often looked weighted to his best off similar marks to today's; others higher up the list.

12/1

13/2

  • Place: £5.90

Form: 5150-2 D

Last run: 178 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
5-15 over fences, scoring at Kelso (2m1f) and Musselburgh (2m) last season; only 1lb higher than for that second win and he's another who has to enter calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

19:35 Market Rasen

Cedar Hill

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

held up in rear

8/1

4th

3

4th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

13:50 Musselburgh

Cedar Hill

11st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Ended last year with below-par C&D run (bled from the nose) and was beaten when falling over 2m4f here on New Year's Day; needs to get back in the groove but has very good chasing strike-rate (7-25) and his current mark is workable.

4/1

Form: 2U-132 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive over fences, best effort when second of seven at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) 16 days ago; the only one of these with race fitness on his side, he's likely to be in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

25th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

15:58 Cartmel

If Not For Dylan

11st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Thorough stayer who made all at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in February and rebounded from a lesser effort when third at Perth (3m, good) last month; has never run here before but is sure to be suited by this move back up in trip.

6/1

3rd

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

If Not For Dylan

10st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Disappointing at Haydock last time (3m1f, good) but successful at Doncaster before that (3m, good to soft); each-way chance.

9/1

7th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

If Not For Dylan

11st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Veteran who retains enthusiasm, and he jumped well and made all at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in February, but he's back up 6lb and probably in a stronger race here.

6/1

Form: 13U11- CD

Last run: 211 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Has developed into a likeable campaigner, and last season he added three chase wins (including over C&D) to three previous successes over hurdles; could still be ahead of his mark but he shaped as if needing his reappearance in 2020 and 2021 and it's possible he'll be better for the run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Dubai Days

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won over C&D (soft) in February before respectable sixth of 17 in veterans' final at Haydock (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; 11 visits to Ayr have yielded five wins and this is his time of year; could go well.

16/1

6th

14

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Dubai Days

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

His last six wins have come in the months of February, March or April and he returned to form to win at Ayr (2m4f, soft) 40 days ago; runner-up in this race two years ago (soft) and won over C&D (good to soft) last February; that latest win reads well and a 4lb rise isn't harsh; possible player.

12/1

1st

1

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Dubai Days

12st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

12yo who hasn't been at the top of his game on either outing this term and was tailed off at Aintree most recently; however, this is the stage of the season when he tends to come good and he's 2lb lower than when scoring at Haydock last February; has won here four times, and on various ground.

6/1

Form: 32215- CD

Last run: 196 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
10yo; it was only a match he won at Newcastle (2m) in March and he ended the season with a below-par run at Carlisle; has gone well when fresh in the past but may be vulnerable to younger legs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

15th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 4

13:05 Doncaster

Slanelough

11st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Now 7lb lower than when winning at Newcastle last November but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive since; needs to raise his game.

16/1

8th

4

4th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

14:15 Ayr

Slanelough

11st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Not an easy one to predict nowadays but returned from break with fairly encouraging run at Wetherby last month and is now 3lb lower than when making all at Newcastle (2m4f, soft) just under a year ago.

16/1

5th

5

18th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 3

14:25 Wetherby

Slanelough

11st 3lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

led

16/1

Form: 11F1-5 CD BF

Last run: 178 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Makes the running; gained three quick wins over fences between February and April, finishing alone over C&D for the third of them; had possibly gone off the boil when down the field at Kelso in May; could be open to more progress and he's likely to make another bold bid after six months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

27th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

16:15 Punchestown

Douglas Talking

10st 11lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Front-runner who has created a big impression during a productive British campaign and a late mistake perhaps cost him when reeled in late on at Aintree (2m, good to soft); still looks well handicapped and he's a scopey 7yo who should take well to this place.

9/2

2nd

13

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Douglas Talking

11st 0lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Front-runs; immediate improvement for switch to fences and beaten only twice in seven completions, running flat last May after a long spell of action and back from break in October; had wind surgery since and has looked an exciting prospect this spring, going round Sandown to the manner born in March (1m7f, good to soft); up further 10lb; could yet rate higher.

3/1

1st

1

7th Mar 2023

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

14:25 Sandown

Douglas Talking

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

jumped well, made all, went clear going easily after 3 out, canter, impressive

9/4

Form: 31224- D BF

Last run: 253 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Took well to chasing last season, winning twice (1m7f/2m), and possibly over the top when below par at Kelso (wore cheekpieces) in February; now back below his last winning mark and has to be respected on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won this 12 months ago on his reappearance when 4lb lower and then finished a 2l second to Primoz at Wetherby, the form of which could be reversed on these more favourable terms; consistent and should have every chance.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £42.50
Straight Forecast £41.60
Tricast £1148.10
Trifecta £230.20

Selections

RP Ratings:

Pay The Piper

POSTDATA:

If Not For Dylan

TOPSPEED:

Cedar Hill

SPOTLIGHT:

Mackenberg

Daily Mail:

Hasankey

The Star:

Douglas Talking

Daily Mirror:

Dubai Days

The Times:

If Not For Dylan

D Express:

Pay The Piper

The Sun:

Pay The Piper

The Guardian:

Cedar Hill

Telegraph:

Mackenberg

Daily Record:

Hasankey