January 09 / 15.20 Ayr

15.20

Soft

Watch Live On Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Watch Live On Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 363

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Fair third in Irish maiden point and has improved with each of his three runs over hurdles, finishing third over C&D (good to soft) recently; has also shown promise on soft; might not be far away on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:43 Perth

Fia Fuinidh

10st 2lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Martin Todhunter

Returned from layoff with two good efforts over fences last autumn but the rest of last season's chasing form was disappointing; now hurdling for first time since 2023; on good mark (even from 2lb out of the weights) but needs to have refreshed by latest break.

20/1

1

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Fia Fuinidh

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Martin Todhunter

Returned from break with two good seconds in the autumn (2m/2m1f), but has lost his way a bit since and is unraced on ground quicker than good to soft (withdrawn from a recent engagement with good deemed unsuitable).

13/2

7th

1

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Fia Fuinidh

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Martin Todhunter

Returned from break with two good seconds in the autumn (2m/2m1f), but has lost his way a bit since and is unraced on ground quicker than good to soft (withdrawn from a recent engagement with good deemed unsuitable).

13/2

14/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 75-056

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Didn't run badly when sixth of 18 on handicap debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago but she was about 17l behind the winner and wasn't beaten due to a lack of stamina; others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:10 Ayr

Eden Mill

10st 5lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

in touch with leaders

7/1

7th

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:10 Ayr

Eden Mill

10st 5lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

Sole win came at Kelso (2m5f, soft) in November 2023 off 3lb lower mark; pulled up when last seen in March last year but wind surgery and the subsequent break may have helped.

7/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 5-623

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Fair third behind easy winner when dropped back in trip in Newcastle maiden (2m, good to soft) last month; ran well on heavy ground in Ireland; could have a part to play for last year's winning yard on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

5th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:30 Musselburgh

Hashtag Lord

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: James Ewart

Well handicapped on last season's hurdle form and he was a fair fourth on his chase debut here in November; however, he was disappointing when back over hurdles at Newcastle three weeks ago and the first-time tongue-tie needs to be the catalyst for a return to form.

11/1

6th

6

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:50 Newcastle

Hashtag Lord

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

Some fair efforts earlier this year among his first few handicap hurdles (including on heavy), and likewise on last month's chase and seasonal debut; returns to hurdles on a reduced mark and could be involved.

6/1

Form: PP0580 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Sole win came in a bumper in December 2020 and he's 0-14 over hurdles; however, there were some fair performances this past autumn and 3m stretched him last time out; worth a second look having travelled from Ireland.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

2nd Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

20:00 Down Royal

Kinnegad Lad

11st 8lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Stephen McConville

Losing run goes back to a Musselburgh bumper success in 2020; however, performed with credit in two races at Ayr at the start of the year and it was an encouraging return from a four-month break at Punchestown last week when fourth of 16; has struggled over this sort of trip previously though.

4/1

4th

10

23rd May 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 80y

16:45 Punchestown

Kinnegad Lad

11st 2lb

J: Miss A McGuinness

T: Stephen McConville

Bumper winner who is 0-16 over hurdles but did finish second at Ayr (2m, soft) in February; seems to prefer those softer conditions.

10/1

2nd

9

1st Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Ayr

Kinnegad Lad

10st 9lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Stephen McConville

prominent, niggled along 2 out, ridden and chased winner approaching last, no extra run-in

16/1

Form: 33

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on Newcastle AW in October on first two runs for this yard but he's been an encouraging third at Catterick (1m7f, soft/good to soft) on his first two hurdle starts and this 4yo is not ruled out now handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

15:00 Musselburgh

Agilulf

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Longstanding maiden who was soundly beaten at Newcastle last time in a first-time hood (retained); however, he's run pretty well on both previous visits to Musselburgh and the tongue-tie is back on today, which he wore when a fair fourth over C&D (good to soft) in November; interesting contender.

8/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders

20/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders, mistake 5th

20/1

Form: -44457

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
His reduced mark appeals judged on some solid efforts last April-June but he wasn't at the same level on his two runs in the autumn; now 0-12 and has to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Fathers Advice

10st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Came good at 32nd attempt, from just out of the weights in Perth chase (3m, good) ten days ago; has run well here (albeit over hurdles) and is still unexposed over staying trips; no surprise if he features.

5/1

9

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Fathers Advice

10st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Came good at 32nd attempt, from just out of the weights in Perth chase (3m, good) ten days ago; has run well here (albeit over hurdles) and is still unexposed over staying trips; no surprise if he features.

5/1

7

14th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

19:30 Perth

Fathers Advice

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Has 0-31 strike-rate and is 2lb wrong today but ran quite well when upped to 3m over hurdles at Ayr (soft; also suited by good) in March and remains unexposed over this trip; back over fences today; not ruled out.

10/1

Form: 66-PP

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Down the field on first two starts and pulled up in C&D novice and maiden hurdles the last twice; a transformation is needed in a first-time tongue-tie on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

9th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Ayr

Tarquin Stardust

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

Down the field on first two starts and pulled up in C&D novice and maiden hurdles the last twice; a transformation is needed in a first-time tongue-tie on handicap debut.

33/1

10

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Ayr

Tarquin Stardust

11st 4lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

prominent on outer

100/1

8

8th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 46y

Class 4

12:42 Newcastle

Tarquin Stardust

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Ewan Whillans

50-1 for both hurdle starts, when tailed off/pulled up.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: -63F42

Last run: 49 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Unproven on soft/heavy ground but he was a good second of five at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in November on his handicap debut, when back from a break, and he's a player if repeating that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Kilbrainy

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear throughout

6/1

8th

4

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Kilbrainy

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear throughout

6/1

Form: 945-77

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Drops back in trip here and his best performance came over 2m, when fourth in a maiden hurdle at Newcastle in December 2021; however, he didn't show enough at Kelso in November in his first two handicaps (2m5f/3m2f; well-beaten seventh each time) to suggest he's the one to be on today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 5

12:10 Musselburgh

Fortcanyon

11st 8lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Sandy Forster

Won off this mark over hurdles at Perth (3m, good to soft) last April; the first-time cheekpieces may help him jump better but that's very much necessary following sizeable defeats this season on his first two chase runs.

12/1

7th

7

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

13:05 Newcastle

Fortcanyon

10st 6lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sandy Forster

didn't jump with fluency, in rear throughout

14/1

Non-runners

Kilbrainy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.10
Straight Forecast £18.19
Tricast £43.19
Trifecta £61.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Agilulf

Telegraph:

Kilbrainy

SPOTLIGHT:

Hashtag Lord

The Times:

Fia Fuinidh

RP Ratings:

Hashtag Lord

Daily Mail:

Hashtag Lord

POSTDATA:

Agilulf

The Guardian:

Agilulf

The Sun:

Agilulf

The Star:

Agilulf

D Express:

Kilbrainy

Daily Mirror:

Kilbrainy

Daily Record:

Kilbrainy