November 29 / 12.35 Ayr

12.35

Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4030.04
  • 2m 4f 100y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 3411-2 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Progressive mare who won a C&D novice (heavy) and a mares' handicap (2m5f, soft; cheekpieces first time) here last season; good second in a Kelso handicap (2m4f, soft) on reappearance and although 3lb higher should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

15:35 Ayr

Charm Offensive

11st 1lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Progressive last year, winning here three times (2m4f/2m5f, soft/heavy), and solid second at Kelso (2m6f, heavy) in December last time; has run well over today's C&D in the past and could play a leading role now back here, provided conditions suit (effective on good to soft; unraced on good).

11/2

2nd

5

29th Dec 2022

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:28 Kelso

Charm Offensive

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

in touch with leaders on inner

5/2

1st

1

29th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

12:35 Ayr

Charm Offensive

12st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Progressive mare who won a C&D novice (heavy) and a mares' handicap (2m5f, soft; cheekpieces first time) here last season; good second in a Kelso handicap (2m4f, soft) on reappearance and although 3lb higher should go well again.

3/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: /2133- D

Last run: 255 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Third in two handicaps (better effort on first occasion) after winning a Plumpton maiden hurdle last December (2m4f, good to soft); worth considering on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Whistleinthedark

11st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

11yo who was tailed off at Cheltenham in December and pulled up at Haydock this month on sole run since; arrives with something to prove but three visits to Perth have yielded two wins, including this race in 2023, so he's worth a second look; a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

25/1

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Whistleinthedark

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: L J Morgan

Inconsistent last year but won twice (3m/2m4f, good/soft), those victories coming on the back of respective breaks of 89 and 120 days; may be best caught fresh nowadays so is worth a second look after 113 days off.

33/1

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:43 Perth

Whistleinthedark

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Back in rude health over C&D (good) in May, easily beating Saint Arvans to win by 20l, and his subsequent Market Rasen fourth (2m5f, good) was also a good effort; still well handicapped on old form; shortlisted.

3/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-5 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo; won a course novice hurdle in October 2021 and fair fifth in a Kelso handicap last time (2m5f, good to soft) on only run since; each-way chance
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

29th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 6f 70y

Class 3

13:55 Kelso

Gentleman De Mai

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Came good over fences at fourth attempt, with hard-fought course win (2m7f, good to soft) on last month's seasonal debut; drew clear of the others with the runner-up that day and a 5lb rise ought to be manageable.

3/1

Form: 8-6190

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in May (2m3f, yielding to soft) but needs to bounce back from two lesser runs since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st May 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Kingfisher Lane

11st 12lb

J: Jack Foley

T: S R B Crawford

didn't jump with fluency, raced wide, midfield, slow jump and dropped to rear 3rd, detached from 4th, slow jump 7th, soon pulled up

25/1

14

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:45 Ayr

Kingfisher Lane

10st 9lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: S R B Crawford

Tailed off in Ireland the last twice and has plenty to prove, but Stuart Crawford's horses are often worth a second look at Ayr and Danny Mullins is booked; no surprise to see a much better run today.

16/1

12th

9

2nd Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 160y

14:15 Downpatrick

Kingfisher Lane

11st 6lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

midfield, jumped slightly left and not fluent 6th

10/1

Form: 62-46

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Best run when second to useful prospect in a Kelso novice (2m2f, good to soft) in April; not quite so good since but may fare better now stepped up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Jet Legs

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

Has won three times over fences, the latest over 2m4f here in March last year (good to soft; visored first time); hasn't done quite as well since; stays 3m and on a good mark now.

8/1

4th

4

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Jet Legs

11st 7lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

Won off today's mark at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft; first-time visor) towards end of last season but is yet to build upon his pleasing reappearance run in October and needs to up his game.

16/1

6th

4

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 4

16:20 Musselburgh

Jet Legs

11st 7lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

Not totally solid on form this season, having failed to back up reappearance effort; however, has slipped back to last winning mark and may prove resurgent.

7/1

Form: 55-227

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Good second in a Cartmel handicap in July (2m6f, good) but well beaten at Newcastle this month on only run since; a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

17

10th Jan 2023

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

12:15 Doncaster

Young Moloney

11st 1lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Daragh Bourke

Ex-Irish; runner-up in Cartmel handicap (2m6f, good) in July on second run for current trainer, but has fared less well both starts since; needs to bounce back.

16/1

6

9th Dec 2022

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

13:40 Doncaster

Young Moloney

10st 4lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Daragh Bourke

Runner-up on handicap debut at Cartmel (2m6f, good) in July but after a break she's not come close to that form in two runs this autumn; overall record now stands at 0-7 and has something to prove at this new trip.

20/1

6th

10

29th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

12:35 Ayr

Young Moloney

10st 3lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Daragh Bourke

Good second in a Cartmel handicap in July (2m6f, good) but well beaten at Newcastle this month on only run since; a bit to prove.

16/1

Form: 29945-

Last run: 264 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Modest efforts at up to 3m1f in three runs over hurdles, last two with a tongue-tie (not on here); no easy task on handicap debut after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Nights In Venice

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Ayr (3m, soft) four weeks ago; he's also effective on good to soft ground and a 4lb rise won't necessarily beat him, but he's inconsistent and has a good record at Ayr, so it's questionable whether he'll produce another good performance today.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Nights In Venice

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course winner who comes here in decent nick, though he finished tired when second of seven in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase three weeks ago; he can race off a 2lb lower mark here so must still enter calculations.

3/1

Form: 41368/ D

Last run: 609 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Kelso novice winner in September 2020 (2m5f, good) whose best run was when third in a decent Doncaster novice hurdle (2m5f, good) two months later; having first run for 609 days and first since wind surgery; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 4

16:01 Cartmel

Nikgarde

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

Inconsistent and he was a mid-race faller in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Hexham a fortnight ago; however, prior to that he was a good third at Newcastle (2m7f, good) and is capable of being thereabouts.

9/1

6

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 4

16:20 Hexham

Nikgarde

11st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: James Ewart

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd, fell 8th

9/2

Form: U44624

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; has fair form over hurdles, including when fourth (of five) in a C&D mares handicap on stable debut; this looks stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

15:50 Musselburgh

Dot Cotton

10st 13lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: R Mike Smith

towards rear

9/1

0

11

5th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:30 Musselburgh

Dot Cotton

11st 2lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: R Mike Smith

She's a 16-race maiden but she ran well when second here (2m4f, good to soft) last month off a career-low mark (behind comfortable winner Lihyan who is due to run in the 1:55); back up 1lb today; might not be far away.

9/1

2nd

4

18th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

14:25 Musselburgh

Dot Cotton

11st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: R Mike Smith

On dangerous mark but she's still a maiden after 15 starts and has an uninspiring record of 4937677547 in handicaps; others preferred.

9/1

Form: 1-

Last run: 281 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who won a Carlisle novice (2m1f, heavy) in February on stable/hurdles debut; this step up in trip should suit and he has a fair chance on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Gold Emery

10st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

All starts on softer than good; no win from 16 attempts over fences but runner-up in seven, including off this mark when he tried an extended 3m6f in the North Wales National at Bangor on penultimate start; ran creditably over 3m7f at Chepstow latest, so has place claims again but he does not look the percentage call for win purposes.

9/1

3rd

2

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Gold Emery

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

All starts on softer than good; no win from 15 attempts over fences but runner-up in seven, including off this mark when he tried an extended 3m6f in the North Wales National at Bangor last time; probably the most likely to give his running and get seriously involved.

9/2

2nd

9

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Gold Emery

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

A runner-up on six occasions over fences but 0-14 in this discipline and came up short in a veterans' chase a month ago (3m1f); looks vulnerable.

10/1

Non-runners

Gold Emery

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.80
Straight Forecast £15.08
Tricast £32.86
Trifecta £55.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gold Emery

Telegraph:

Gentleman De Mai

RP Ratings:

Charm Offensive

D Express:

Gentleman De Mai

Daily Mirror:

Gentleman De Mai

The Star:

Gentleman De Mai

TOPSPEED:

Gold Emery

The Times:

Gold Emery

The Guardian:

Gold Emery

The Sun:

Gold Emery

Daily Record:

Gold Emery

POSTDATA:

Charm Offensive

Daily Mail:

Charm Offensive