December 04 / 13.30 Ayr

13.30

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 6543-0

Last run: 39 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a promising third in a maiden hurdle at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) but she struggled on her handicap debut at Carlisle (22-1) in October; still early days but she needs a transformation on this switch to fences; stablemate of Hector Master.
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

Form: F77-3P C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Won a hurdle handicap here (2m, good) in March; has mixed record since and didn't get very far on chase debut at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) last month but his saddle slipped after an early mistake in that race; only 2lb higher than for his hurdle win and he should have a future in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Perth

Artic Row

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Last three wins have been in 2m4f handicap chases at Ayr, although won a 2m Ayr novice handicap over hurdles in March 2023 (good); hasn't been in top form over fences on last three starts and probably best watched this time.

12/1

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Perth

Artic Row

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Last three wins have been in 2m4f handicap chases at Ayr, although won a 2m Ayr novice handicap over hurdles in March 2023 (good); hasn't been in top form over fences on last three starts and probably best watched this time.

12/1

5th

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Artic Row

12st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: N W Alexander

Three chase wins at Ayr (2m4f on soft/good to soft) last winter but below best there in March and at Carlisle since; Callum Pritchard takes off a helpful 5lb but adding cheekpieces acknowledges something needs to change.

8/1

Form: /4P-22

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Record of 0-11 but has finished runner-up in his two chase starts this autumn and he rallied well for a close second at Kelso (2m1f, soft) last time; up 3lb but this step back up in trip should suit and he's open to more progress over fences; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

15th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

12:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Hector Master

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Seemingly aided by tongue-tie when runner-up in first two chases, more recently when staying on strongly from poor position at Kelso (2m1f, soft) seven weeks ago; it's hard to know what to make of that piece of form, though, and he's 3lb higher here.

9/4

2nd

7

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 5

16:29 Kelso

Hector Master

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

in touch with leaders on outer, awkward jump 1st

6/1

Form: 65-P04 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Has a patchy profile but his last hurdle win came off 3lb higher at this track and he started his chase career with a 4l fourth of 13 at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) last month; that can be marked up because he got hampered in the closing stages and he's a big player if he can back that up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

0-18 over fences and hasn't been shaping of late as though a win is imminent; 10lb out of the handicap today and hard to fancy.

50/1

7th

11

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: R Mike Smith

0-19 over fences; ended a sequence failing to finish when a well-beaten fourth on first run back after a wind op at Ayr last time (3m, soft); 9lb out of the handicap and plenty to prove.

25/1

4th

6

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Scored over hurdles here back in 2023 but he remains winless over fences and was tongue tied when pulled up over C&D in January; needs a subsequent wind operation to spark major improvement.

25/1

Form: 3/03-3 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Overal record of 0-7 but he's shown promise in his two runs over fences (2m7f/2m1f) and wasn't far behind Hector Master at Kelso (first run after wind surgery) on his return in October; looks interesting if he can build on that back up in trip and he's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

30th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:55 Cartmel

Baron Briggs

10st 13lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Returned from a break to win a novice handicap at Kelso last time (2m7f, good to soft; Toucan Sam 8l back in third but 9lb better off); up 5lb; chance.

5/2

1st

5

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Baron Briggs

10st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Had jumping issues on both appearances in March and needs to put things right on that front here, but this return to a left-handed track ought to be in his favour and he's a big player in this uncompetitive race if judged on the form he showed when third three consecutive times (2m1f-3m) last autumn/winter.

3/1

1st

5

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Baron Briggs

10st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Had jumping issues on both appearances in March and needs to put things right on that front here, but this return to a left-handed track ought to be in his favour and he's a big player in this uncompetitive race if judged on the form he showed when third three consecutive times (2m1f-3m) last autumn/winter.

3/1

Form: 8465-6

Last run: 195 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner in 2020 but lightly raced since and he couldn't make an impact in his four chase runs earlier this year; on reduced mark but was only sixth of eight at Hexham (2m4f, good) last time and has work to do after seven months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

10th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:10 Kelso

Zihuatanejo

10st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Sandy Forster

Points scorer but this maiden hurdler/chaser faces a very stiff task from 41lb out of the handicap.

100/1

0

6

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:50 Newcastle

Zihuatanejo

10st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sandy Forster

Lightly raced since winning an Irish point in 2020; has bled from the nose and, even should the wheels stay on, it's not ideal being 9lb out of the weights (Dylan Johnston's claim helps).

25/1

Verdict

Preference is for Lucinda Russell’s HECTOR MASTER, who caught the eye with his strong-finishing second at Kelso in October and looks interesting on this step back up in trip. Second choice is Euchan Falls, who kicked off his chase career with a big run at Musselburgh last month and that can be marked up because he got hampered in the closing stages. Another to consider is Baron Briggs, who wasn’t far behind he selection at Kelso and has claims if he can build on that.[David Moon]