November 15 / 14.15 Ayr

14.15

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 5P25-2

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

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

2

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 3

14:13 Ayr

Donny Boy

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Point, bumper and maiden hurdle winner who ran well in two handicap chases here in 2024; however, this 10yo has been absent since being pulled up at Newbury that November and faces a very tough assignment on his return.

25/1

10

30th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

15:20 Newcastle

Donny Boy

10st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.

8/1

10

30th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

15:20 Newcastle

Donny Boy

10st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.

8/1

Form: 6-26P5 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

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

14th

9

10th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

19:28 Sligo

Politicise

11st 1lb

J: Mr C A Bowman

T: Cian Collins

Flat winner; 2-26 over hurdles; last win came for Nigel Slevin in a Down Royal handicap chase in April last year; yet to shine for this stable; not badly handicapped on his old form, needs a revival.

20/1

9th

4

12th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 25y

16:25 Bellewstown

Politicise

11st 7lb

J: Mr C A Bowman

T: Cian Collins

Two-time Flat winner is 2-25 over hurdles; last win came for Nigel Slevin in a Down Royal handicap chase last April; has been out of form since joining Cian Collins; well-handicapped on old form but he's hard to fancy on recent showings.

20/1

9th

4

12th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 25y

16:25 Bellewstown

Politicise

11st 7lb

J: Mr C A Bowman

T: Cian Collins

Two-time Flat winner is 2-25 over hurdles; last win came for Nigel Slevin in a Down Royal handicap chase last April; has been out of form since joining Cian Collins; well-handicapped on old form but he's hard to fancy on recent showings.

20/1

Form: 21424-

Last run: 202 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 108

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

3rd

3

7th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Midnight Shuffle

11st 13lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

prominent

11/2

Form: 3/73-5

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

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

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Fete Champetre

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Ex-Rose Dobbin; has run three fair races for new trainer (in front when falling two out at Ayr in March); could go well but stamina to prove on first run at 3m.

8/1

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Fete Champetre

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Ex-Rose Dobbin; has run three fair races for new trainer (in front when falling two out at Ayr in March); could go well but stamina to prove on first run at 3m.

8/1

4th

5

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Kelso

Fete Champetre

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

Low-mileage 10yo; fair fourth at Sedgefield (2m3f, good to soft) in December on return from an absence and he was in front when falling two out at Ayr (2m4f, soft) a month ago; recently withdrawn on account of good ground which is worrying.

6/1

Form: 0445-3

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

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

5th

2

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Worcester

Present Fair

11st 10lb

J: Dylan White

T: Donald McCain

Two wins and a second from five starts since April but he's not the easiest to predict and there have also been a couple of heavy defeats, including when coming home 65l adrift at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last time; will need to be on a going day.

8/1

10th

2

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

16:37 Uttoxeter

Present Fair

11st 13lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Heavy-ground winner here in late 2023 and this year has added two Bangor handicaps on good to soft and good; only 4lb higher than for the latest (by a length) and the front two were clear.

7/2

1st

3

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

17:56 Bangor-on-Dee

Present Fair

11st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Scored over 2m3f here (good to soft) in April and was close second at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) the following month; disappointed when last in action but, if back on song, could plausibly have untapped potential over today's longer trip.

7/1

Form: 6543-0

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 96

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

2nd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Torosay

11st 10lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Low-mileage mare who got right back on track (under today's rider Gregor Walkingshaw) when a clear second of 11 over C&D 24 days ago; up 2lb but she holds leading claims for yard back among the winners.

7/4

2nd

6

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:05 Ayr

Torosay

11st 4lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Heavy-ground chase winner at 3m; close up over C&D in November (soft) but not quite at that level since and bit to find with Jirko on a recent clash here.

8/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Torosay

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Best effort when running away from 12 rivals at Hexham (3m, heavy) in April 2024; hasn't always had suitable conditions since, and she lost a shoe when bidding for a win in the same race 201 days ago; may still have some potential and she's now only 2lb higher than for the win.

5/1

Verdict

Bumper and novice hurdle winner MIDNIGHT SHUFFLE is a possible improver now tackling fences and she gets the nod on her chase debut. Present Fair was an encouraging third at Sedgefield on his first run over fences and could progress in this sphere. He is feared most, ahead of Torosay.[Ben Hutton]