April 21 / 15.00 Ayr

15.00

Good To Soft

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 0-6121 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Comfortable win at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) in January on second chase start and, after a good second here (2m, good to soft), he made all at Haydock (2m4f, soft) last month; it was just a small field last time but he did it readily and this progressive 7yo could have more left in the tank.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Richmond Lake

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

10yo whose 13-race losing sequence goes back to December 2023 but he's run some good races in the meantime (including on soft), most recently staying on for a neck second in the Peter Marsh here (extended 3m1f, good to soft); on that evidence he's well worth a crack at a marathon trip.

8/1

2nd

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Richmond Lake

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Ran really well when third in this last year (soft) and kept on for second at Aintree (2m4f, soft) last month, albeit no match for the winner; this 10yo has a good record here and, now 8lb lower than 12 months ago, he could be involved back up in trip.

10/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 553231 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Hung on to win by a neck at Carlisle (2m4f, heavy) last month; 4lb higher in a better race today and a career-best is needed, but he has a good record here (three wins; good-soft) and might not be far away.
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

OUR TIP

Form: 51-24P

Last run: 55 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Won a Grade 2 at Sandown (2m6f, good) last April and has dropped to an attractive mark; not ruled out but this 10yo has been well below his best on his three starts this season and has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

17:10 Carlisle

Saint Calvados

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Harry Whittington

held up in rear, headway and went third before 4 out, pressed winner 2 out, drifted left run-in, stayed on

11/10

6th

1

24th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 2

16:20 Warwick

Saint Calvados

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Can sometimes harm his chance by racing too freely but was a high-class chaser in his prime and proved he retains a significant chunk of ability when close third in Ayr handicap (2m4f, good to soft) last month; drops back to 2m for first time since 2019; respected.

2/1

3rd

1

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:00 Ayr

Saint Calvados

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a Grade 2 at Sandown (2m6f, good) last April and has dropped to an attractive mark; not ruled out but this 10yo has been well below his best on his three starts this season and has something to prove.

11/2

Form: 260-22

Last run: 80 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
0-3 over fences and needs to produce more than when second in 2m novice chases the last twice; however, those were still encouraging performances and he may have more to offer now back up in trip; well treated on his hurdle form and not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Christopher Wood

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Smart hurdler and useful chaser in his prime but on a losing wicket over fences for a long time; perhaps he'll be all the better for a return to hurdles, for the first time in three years, but that's up in the air.

14/1

3rd

3

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Christopher Wood

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

led

14/1

3rd

4

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:40 Hereford

Christopher Wood

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime but has regressed and become inconsistent; ran very poorly in Lingfield marathon last month and needs to respond very positively to the addition of blinkers here.

9/1

Form: 10-35F D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
He's hard to fancy on the back of his last two performances, but his two wins early last year were impressive (2m4f, soft/good) and highlighted that he's capable of bouncing back from below-par efforts; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

17:25 Stratford

Killer Clown

12st 0lb

J: Miss Daisy White

T: Miss Daisy White

Useful in his prime; drew clear to win Ludlow hunter chase (2m4f, good) by 13l last month and followed up in open point at Hornby Castle (2m6f, good to firm) eight days ago; obvious contender.

9/4

1st

6

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Killer Clown

11st 12lb

J: Miss Daisy White

T: Miss Daisy White

Formerly very useful chaser for Emma Lavelle who is 1-1 for Daisy White, having won at Knightwick (2m4f, good to soft) in November 2024; landed three more points last spring and his latest second at Cocklebarrow (3m) was a step back in the right direction after two big defeats; looks a player with this trip and drying ground in his favour.

5/1

11th

9

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:55 Market Rasen

Killer Clown

11st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Kept on for respectable third at Chepstow (2m3f, good) at end of last season and is another 3lb lower now but it's over two years since his latest win and he's evidently not the force of old; cheekpieces refitted.

10/1

Form: 51-124 C BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Disappointing here in February and has to bounce back; however, he'd previously made a promising start to his chasing career with a win at Carlisle (2m, soft) and a near-miss at Wetherby (2m3f, soft), and he's a two-time hurdle winner here on good ground; key player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

2nd

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

17

27th Dec 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:08 Kempton

Bass Rock

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Georgina Nicholls

Had a long spell of mediocre results but he's much better handicapped now and his recent run behind Dreaming Blue at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) showed he was turning a corner for his new yard; needs more but he could be just at the start of a comeback; not dismissed.

12/1

Form: 24-P81 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

The Big Bite

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

Now 10lb lower than when winning major handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in first-time cheekpieces in March 2023 but looked out of sorts last season and arrives here with a lot to prove.

16/1

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

The Big Bite

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

Now 10lb lower than when winning major handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) in first-time cheekpieces in March 2023 but looked out of sorts last season and arrives here with a lot to prove.

16/1

2

10th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 34y

Class 3

15:00 Market Rasen

The Big Bite

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Henry Oliver

in touch with leaders, lost ground and struggling after 11th

11/1

Form: 512211 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
10yo who has been better than ever the last twice following wind surgery, with wins at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) and Carlisle (2m, heavy); he's also effective over this trip and on good ground, and is one to consider for a trainer who has won three of the last nine runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Baron De Midleton

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th, struggling 3 out, no chance when mistake 2 out, soon pulled up

9/4

2

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Baron De Midleton

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th

9/4

2

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

15:25 Newcastle

Baron De Midleton

11st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Brian Ellison

set good pace, led, not fluent 4th, soon headed, lost two places before 3 out, weakened and pulled up quickly before 2 out

8/1

Non-runners

The Big Bite

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.90
Straight Forecast £14.66
Tricast £59.11
Trifecta £66.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Richmond Lake

SPOTLIGHT:

Bass Rock

RP Ratings:

Christopher Wood

WEST COUNTRY:

Saint Calvados

TOPSPEED:

Dubai Days

Daily Mail:

Richmond Lake

Daily Mirror:

Richmond Lake

The Sun:

Richmond Lake

Daily Record:

Richmond Lake

The Times:

Bass Rock

D Express:

Bass Rock

The Star:

Bass Rock

The Guardian:

Christopher Wood

Telegraph:

Saint Calvados