January 02 / 13.45 Ayr

13.45

Heavy

Marlene McPherson 65th Birthday Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 3m 0f 20y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Marlene McPherson 65th Birthday Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50

Form: 2/3-11 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 7yo who is 2-2 since switched to fences, the latter win gained here (2m4f, soft; made all) five weeks ago; 6lb higher now and not sure to benefit from this move back up in trip, but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Gold Cup Bailly

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Showed that he retained spark when fourth of five at Ayr (3m, soft) in January, when he made a bad mistake and jumped to the right at that left-handed track; goes right-handed today; however, tailed off in Grade 2 novice hurdle since and best form has come on soft/heavy going; a visor goes on.

20/1

1

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Gold Cup Bailly

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

dwelt start, in rear, not fluent 1st, struggling 4 out

20/1

Form: 315-24 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual Irish point winner; second to progressive rival on seasonal/chase debut at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) in October and very respectable fourth at Haydock (3m4f, soft) the following month; remains lightly raced; ought to make his presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Carlisle

Your Own Story

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

9yo who has won just one of his 17 chases but he's finished second in nine of them, including at Kelso (3m2f, good to soft) in March; also effective on good ground and he won here over hurdles; not ruled out on return.

4/1

10th

14

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Your Own Story

10st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent, pressed leaders briefly 5th

10/1

10th

14

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Your Own Story

10st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent, pressed leaders briefly 5th

10/1

Form: /211P- D

Last run: 291 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Not seen since pulled up in Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival last March but won consecutive chases before that (2m7f, good to soft/3m1f, soft) and still has plenty of scope for further progress; has travelled from Northamptonshire for this and will be dangerous if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Omar Maretti

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break.

8/1

4th

4

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Omar Maretti

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break.

8/1

Form: /P43-2 C

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Drew a blank during light campaign last season but looked in pretty good nick when second here (2m4f, good to soft) in late October and today's move back up to 3m will suit; must be considered.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.60
Straight Forecast £4.93
Trifecta £12.70

Selections

RP Ratings:

Gold Cup Bailly

SPOTLIGHT:

Marown

Telegraph:

Omar Maretti

The Star:

Your Own Story

TOPSPEED:

Gold Cup Bailly

POSTDATA:

Gold Cup Bailly

The Times:

Gold Cup Bailly

The Guardian:

Gold Cup Bailly

D Express:

Gold Cup Bailly

Daily Mirror:

Gold Cup Bailly

The Sun:

Gold Cup Bailly

Daily Record:

Marown

Daily Mail:

Omar Maretti