October 03 / 13.42 Ayr

13.42

Soft

Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 113246 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Scored twice off 6lb lower in July (1m, good to soft) and has remained in form since, not disgraced in midfield at Pontefract most recently; perhaps weighted to the hilt but can't be dismissed back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(14)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

17:03 Doncaster

Tele Red

10st 1lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

In-form 8yo who recorded a 2l success at Pontefract (1m2f, soft) on Monday, ending two-year losing spell; incurs 4lb penalty but Jack Nicholls takes off useful 5lb; could well remain competitive.

4/1

1st

14

(5)

20th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 4

16:33 Pontefract

Tele Red

9st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

8yo who has been beaten on his last 17 starts going back to October 2023 but he's been runner-up on his last two outings (1m, good/soft), most recently here when beaten a neck; he should be fine now back up to 1m2f and he has a strong record here; could be thereabouts.

9/1

10

(4)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 37y

Class 4

17:15 Haydock

Tele Red

8st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

In form and pretty consistent but he's exposed and hasn't won for almost two years; likely to give his running but vulnerable to younger legs.

12/1

9/4

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 476601 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Led in the final half-furlong and beat Ventura Rascal by 1l in C&D contest (good to soft) last month; the cheekpieces reapplied that day are now removed; back up just 3lb he's still well treated on peak form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(6)

19th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:48 Ayr

Hortzadar

9st 13lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

towards rear

9/1

10th

11

(13)

27th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 4

16:35 York

Hortzadar

9st 4lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: David O’Meara

dwelt start, held up in rear

16/1

7th

2

(5)

15th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Ayr

Hortzadar

10st 3lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

towards rear

9/2

11/4

Form: 413225 BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; has form figures of 13225 since wearing cheekpieces, staying on for close fifth over C&D most recently (started favourite); ties in with Hortzadar and Ventura Rascal on that running; may still progress further, being a 3yo, and remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(1)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Hale End

9st 9lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

In good form in the spring, winning at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) before near misses at Thirsk and over C&D; not at his best on his last two starts but this is an ease in class and he's a major player in his bid to win this race for a second time (successful in 2024).

7/2

7th

8

(11)

5th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Ayr

Hale End

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

In a consistent vein of form over 1m until below par over 1m1f last time; went very close over C&D on penultimate start and could go well returned to his usual trip.

10/1

10th

12

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 177y

Class 4

16:50 York

Hale End

9st 0lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Returned from two-month break with a win at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) in April; good runner-up efforts at Thirsk (1m, good) and Ayr (1m, good to firm) since; the line came a couple of strides too soon for his strong finish at Ayr and the extra yardage this afternoon may help; enters calculations.

8/1

40/1

Form: -95278

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Ordinary 3yo maiden who isn't solid on 2023 form, having failed to back up his 66-1 second at Ripon (1m, soft) in two subsequent runs; return to forecast slow ground is the main cause for optimism.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

(18)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:15 Doncaster

Starshot

9st 1lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Lawrence Mullaney

Just one win from 43 starts but he's reached the frame on AW at Southwell (1m/7f) in his last two runs; usually comes from off the pace and has claims if he transfers his recent form back to turf.

10/1

4th

9

(9)

7th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Starshot

9st 2lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Lawrence Mullaney

One win from 42 starts but he's posted some good placed efforts this year, including when third of ten here over 1m eight days ago; drops back in trip with place claims but he may prove vulnerable from a win perspective.

7/1

3rd

8

(8)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

16:40 Southwell (AW)

Starshot

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Lawrence Mullaney

1-41; back-to-back good runs under Sean Kirrane in March but gave himself no chance of troubling the judge last week by failing to settle; usual tongue-tie returns.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: -44902 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
All wins on good/firmer but has form on soft; ran creditably (1l behind Hortzadar) in first-time tongue-tie here 12 days ago in a race that he'd won in 2021; remains on a workable mark and looks a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(8)

20th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Ventura Rascal

9st 10lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Multiple turf winner; not scored for over a year and form patchy since last win; drop in trip at this track shouldn't inconvenience and claims on pick of turf form now returned to AW.

8/1

5th

3

(2)

3rd Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:42 Ayr

Ventura Rascal

9st 12lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Kevin Ryan

took keen hold, led, headed 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out

3/1

9/1

Form: 683214 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Held on narrowly in 7f event here (good to soft) on the same card that Hortzadar won over 1m; faced a tougher task under a penalty at Hamilton four days later; return to Ayr is a positive (4-12 at this venue).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(2)

19th Nov 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

15:14 Newcastle (AW)

Cosa Sara

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: Jim Goldie

Scored at Ayr (7f) in September but her form has nosedived; last of 12 over C&D last month and has something to prove.

20/1

12th

6

(9)

17th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Cosa Sara

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Fifth turf win when successful over Ayr's 7f last month; not so good since and her record on the AW (0-9) hardly bodes well.

12/1

6th

7

(5)

3rd Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:42 Ayr

Cosa Sara

8st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jim Goldie

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression from over 2f out

9/1

Non-runners

Chinese Spirit

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £6.55
Trifecta £20.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hale End

Telegraph:

Ventura Rascal

POSTDATA:

Hortzadar

TOPSPEED:

Tele Red

The Times:

Hale End

D Express:

Hale End

The Star:

Hale End

The Guardian:

Tele Red

Daily Mail:

Ventura Rascal

Daily Mirror:

Ventura Rascal

The Sun:

Hortzadar

Daily Record:

Hortzadar