July 31 / 15.40 Ayr

15.40

Good

Book Scottish Sun Ladies Night Handicap

  • Prize money: £5574.2
  • 0m 7f 50y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Book Scottish Sun Ladies Night Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: -88081 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Got back on track in first-time blinkers when scoring off a reduced mark here (1m, good to soft) last Monday; has a penalty but he remains well treated on his best form and should get a decent pace back at this trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(1)

6th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:05 Ayr

Gainsbourg

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Daragh Bourke

Brings positives, being a dual course scorer who is back on last winning mark; the negative is that he dropped right away and finished tailed-off last on seasonal debut.

25/1

12th

2

(4)

16th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Carlisle

Gainsbourg

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Daragh Bourke

Has two wins on soft but this is his first run on the Flat since last October, and first since pulled up over hurdles in November, and was below his best on all three previous visits to this track; best watched.

14/1

6

26th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:10 Southwell

Gainsbourg

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Daragh Bourke

Little to get excited about in three starts over hurdles last year, but he has won six times on the Flat including this summer; could step forward now switched to a handicap.

16/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 651640 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won a 7f novice at Wetherby (good) in May but he's been well held in three handicaps since, including at this track (6f, good to soft) two weeks ago; goes back up in trip off a sliding mark but he needs to rediscover his spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(10)

23rd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Haydock

American Affair

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Highly progressive in 2025, winning the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm); also won on good to soft last year; it was his first run since when down the field at York recently and he may have needed it, but a dramatic transformation is required just ten days on.

9/1

10th

3

(12)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:30 York

American Affair

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Has built up a good strike rate over 5f/5.5f and registered a neck success at Royal Ascot (good to firm) upped to Group 1 level when last seen; landed a handicap at this meeting 12 months ago; very progressive and has possibilities provided he's as effective back at 6f.

9/1

1

(16)

17th Jun 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

American Affair

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Made outstanding progress in 5f handicaps and the way he raced to the front at York (good to firm) in May showed that a switch to Group company wouldn't be at all fanciful; unable to show what he was made of behind Mgheera in a Group 2 at Haydock (5f, good) since, as a gap shut as he was about to go through it, and he remains one to keep on the right side.

14/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 276649 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly on good/softer; well treated on his old form and has run some good races this season but he was only ninth of 16 here (6f) last time and is now 0-20 since his last win in 2021; others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(2)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

14:35 Musselburgh

Black Friday

8st 13lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

11th

12

(2)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

14:35 Musselburgh

Black Friday

8st 13lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

4th

8

(5)

14th Oct 2024

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

16:20 Musselburgh

Black Friday

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: R Mike Smith

Latest of multiple wins came at 7f last August; below par lately, including behind The Gay Blade over C&D 12 days ago, but won in cheekpieces earlier in career and they're refitted for the first time since 2022.

20/1

4/1

Form: 2-3820 CD BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Doesn't always look the easiest and was never involved after a slow start here last time but he went close in C&D event on his penultimate run; has claims if he can recapture that form and all of his wins have come at this course; handles any ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(6)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 7y

Class 4

16:05 Hamilton

Classy Al

8st 10lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Does plenty wrong during his races but it hasn't stopped him from winning seven times, two of them over C&D; running himself back into form this year but others appeal more.

12/1

4th

3

(7)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Ayr

Classy Al

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

No stranger to the Ayr winners' enclosure, winning five at this track (5f-7f), including this race two years ago; has struggled for form in two 5f spins at Musselburgh this year, which makes him hard to fancy; on the plus side, the handicapper is beginning to give him a chance.

10/1

14th

16

(8)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

18:45 Musselburgh

Classy Al

8st 13lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Posted a duck egg over C&D last weekend on reappearance, taking Musselburgh record to 0-8; has done all his winning at Ayr and Hamilton; not the percentage call.

33/1

14/1

Form: 340-77

Last run: 58 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Won on the AW in France in October 2021 but he's 0-10 since and has struggled in four runs for his current yard; mark is tumbling but he was beaten 12l at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm) last time and needs to turn things around after wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

26th Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Kalganov

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Michael Dods

Losing run up to 18 and entitled to have run better than he did at Ayr last time (7f; handles soft); had been running quite well, though, and cheekpieces now replace a visor.

6/1

4

(6)

6th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

17:15 Ayr

Kalganov

9st 11lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael Dods

Losing run is mounting up; however, has proved consistent in the last two months and latest effort can be marked up (met traffic issues); defied a much higher mark over C&D in 2023 and enters the reckoning.

5/1

Form: 51-558

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Emphatic win in a Newcastle novice (1m, AW) in December but he's not gone on from that and was a remote last of eight in a 1m handicap here (good to soft) last Monday; still lightly raced but he has something to prove on this drop 7f; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(5)

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:20 Thirsk

Irish Flame

9st 6lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

in touch with leaders, steady headway from 2f out, chased clear leader over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, pressed leader inside final 110yds, no extra towards finish

11/1

2nd

9

(5)

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:20 Thirsk

Irish Flame

9st 6lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

in touch with leaders, steady headway from 2f out, chased clear leader over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, pressed leader inside final 110yds, no extra towards finish

11/1

5th

7

(4)

13th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Irish Flame

9st 3lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Dods

Beaten 11 times since his wide-margin C&D win in December 2022, including when a warm favourite behind Havana Party here three weeks ago; change of headgear may not be enough to turn the tables.

6/1

25/1

Form: /4430/ D

Last run: 683 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Debut winner at Chelmsford winner (7f, AW) for William Haggas in November 2020; respectable efforts in first three runs the following year but he was tailed off over C&D on stable debut in September 2021 and has not been seen since; has had wind surgery but he's best watched back from a long absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(4)

7th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Maraakiz

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

Tongue tied and not disgraced when sixth of nine in 9.5f Wolverhampton handicap 17 days ago; cheekpieces go on now but it's still 12 outings since his sole success.

7/1

6th

9

(8)

19th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maraakiz

8st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

Won at Chelmsford (7f, AW) on his debut in November 2020 but he's 0-11 since and has finished tailed off in six of his last seven starts; has dropped a long way in the weights and he ran well on his penultimate run but he was beaten 38l at Newcastle last time; opposable.

16/1

11th

5

(1)

4th Jan 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Maraakiz

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ewan Whillans

Chelmsford winner for William Haggas as a 2yo who showed little after returning from a mammoth absence last July, but much better when beaten just over a length into fourth of 12 at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) four weeks ago; major player if building on that from the same mark.

6/1

Form: -63628

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Close up in four of his first five starts but his last run for the Barron yard was in a seller and he struggled on his handicap/stable debut at Hamilton (8.3f); the soft ground may have been an issue that day but he needs improvement back at this trip; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

(4)

3rd Oct 2023

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

15:57 Ayr

Burning The Bails

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: R Mike Smith

held up in rear, outpaced over 3f out, no impression from 2f out

40/1

7th

7

(8)

17th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 5

15:25 Musselburgh

Burning The Bails

8st 11lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: R Mike Smith

Eight-race maiden who was claimed out of a seller in July; down the field in three handicaps for new stable (7f-8.3f) and needs to turn a corner; cheekpieces (worn for last two races) replaced by first-time visor.

16/1

0

10

(9)

8th Sep 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

15:55 Newcastle (AW)

Burning The Bails

9st 7lb

J: Ben Curtis

T: R Mike Smith

Didn't progress for the Barrons; finished out the back in two runs for current stable, but dropped 7lb and soft ground might not have been ideal; not out of this if the return to AW piques his interest.

16/1

Non-runners

Novak

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.40
Straight Forecast £7.20
Tricast £17.60
Trifecta £24.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Novak

SPOTLIGHT:

Gainsbourg

The Times:

American Affair

POSTDATA:

Classy Al

The Star:

Gainsbourg

TOPSPEED:

Novak

Telegraph:

Novak

The Guardian:

Novak

Daily Mail:

Novak

D Express:

Novak

Daily Mirror:

Novak

The Sun:

Novak

Daily Record:

Novak