December 04 / 15.30 Ayr

15.30

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2450.7
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 34

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown promise when making the frame at Perth (2m, good) and Kelso (2m, good to soft) on his first two starts, finishing 1l behind third-placed Malicash most recently; can give another good account and there's every chance he'll be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

21

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Al Kalila

10st 8lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Maiden hurdle winner built on previous chasing promise with a 2l win at Kelso in February (2m5f, good to soft) in a four-runner field; this is a different challenge altogether and needs to improve again in first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

17:10 Kelso

Al Kalila

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: S R B Crawford

Ayr maiden hurdle winner (2m4f; made much of running) last winter; shaped well over the extended 2m7f here on his first two starts this season and he wasn't disgraced over 3m at Down Royal last time; this drop in distance should suit him and he could be ready to strike.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

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

15

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

13:35 Newcastle

Boolamore Classic

10st 3lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won an Ayr handicap 13 months ago when visored for the first time so there's hope that the new blinkers might have a similar effect; risky enough, though.

25/1

7

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

Boolamore Classic

10st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won in first-time visor at Ayr (2m5f, soft) in January but he's taken two backward steps since and was a well-held fifth at Ayr (3m, soft) last time; bit to prove again and he needs to find some extra reserves of stamina.

9/1

7

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

Boolamore Classic

10st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won in first-time visor at Ayr (2m5f, soft) in January but he's taken two backward steps since and was a well-held fifth at Ayr (3m, soft) last time; bit to prove again and he needs to find some extra reserves of stamina.

9/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on for modest third on Irish point debut in May (yielding to soft); it's tricky to gauge what that form is worth but he makes his rules debut in a run-of-the-mill contest; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Forged Well

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Martin Todhunter

Tailed off when back over hurdles at Sedgefield last month and something to prove after that; however, he's 2lb lower than for his ready win over fences here (2m7f, good to soft) in December and shouldn't be discounted.

9/1

6th

4

19th Feb 2026

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

14:33 Sedgefield

Forged Well

11st 9lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

Won a handicap chase at Musselburgh in December (2m7f, good to soft); shapes as though this trip will suit, is 7lb lower over hurdles and could go well.

3/1

Form: 3

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Attracted market support when third of 13 at 8-1 on debut at Kelso (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago, finishing 1l ahead of the once-raced Al Kalila; open to improvement and could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

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

8th

4

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Posh Et Noir

11st 4lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

pressed leader, outpaced and lost ground quickly 4f out, soon hung left, weakened over 2f out, tailed off

100/1

7th

5

20th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Ayr

Posh Et Noir

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

set steady pace, disputed lead, prominent after 2f, lost second after 4f

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 5-

Last run: 268 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

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

11

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:00 Perth

Teddy Mac

10st 2lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Ian Duncan

Inconsistent 12-race maiden who has struggled at around 3m in his last two handicaps; 4lb out the weights here and he needs a major turnaround in new equipment.

20/1

11

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:00 Perth

Teddy Mac

10st 2lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Ian Duncan

Inconsistent 12-race maiden who has struggled at around 3m in his last two handicaps; 4lb out the weights here and he needs a major turnaround in new equipment.

20/1

4th

5

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:30 Newcastle

Teddy Mac

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Ian Duncan

in touch with leaders, outpaced 9th, lost touch home turn, tailed off

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

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

10

15th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Tees Comps Clive

10st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

0-11 over hurdles but comes here after making the frame on consecutive appearances at Perth (2m4f/3m, good) this summer and is not yet fully exposed at about 3m; each-way claims at least.

7/1

4th

12

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:35 Perth

Tees Comps Clive

10st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Gillian Boanas

No wins in 12 but ran his best race since wind surgery when beaten only half a length over 2m4f here recently; could build on that and should stay this far.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Perth

Tees Comps Clive

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

Unplaced all nine hurdling starts, albeit he ran well when fourth on soft ground at Newcastle (2m6f) during the winter; recent efforts have been underwhelming; needs to raise his game.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, soft to heavy) in March and in third was Itseemslikeit, who won a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las recently; changed hands for £100,000 in April and has had wind surgery since; in good hands and he's respected on his bumper debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:25 Kelso

Walk On Quest

12st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won four handicaps on the trot two seasons ago (2m-2m5f, good to soft/soft); hasn't won since but was beaten only by a nose over C&D on good last time; contender.

6/5

2nd

6

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 3

15:30 Kelso

Walk On Quest

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Last season's chasing four-timer included two course wins (2m1f/2m5f) but he's been disappointing since, barring a keeping-on second at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in December; pulled up in Carlisle series final won by Wolfburg last month, and moves back up in trip with questions to answer.

12/1

2

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Walk On Quest

11st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Ran creditably behind Trac at Newcastle (2m4f) on penultimate start but otherwise far from consistent since completing a four-timer last term; not exactly guaranteed to give his running.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

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

5th

3

9th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:15 Perth

Yakaleo

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Down the field in his three hurdles but the bumper runs were promising and perhaps handicaps can see him in a better light.

15/2

7th

6

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Yakaleo

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in rear

33/1

7th

8

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:18 Perth

Yakaleo

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Didn't really progress in his three bumpers and was tailed off at 40-1 on hurdling debut at Hexham (2m, good) last month; this stiffer stamina test could suit on pedigree but he needs to leave that latest form well behind.

12/1

Abandoned

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

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

7th

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Carlisle

Holly Bird

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Yard firmly back among the winners of late and she opened her account in some style in 2m4f handicap hurdle at Newcastle 15 days ago; always travelling strongly there so big shout despite the drop back in trip and 6lb weights rise.

2/1

1st

11

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

13:35 Newcastle

Holly Bird

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Responded well to first-time cheekpieces when second at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) and didn't appear to stay 3m on heavy ground at Ayr; did run well to a point and Brian Hughes rides again.

12/1

Form: 8-4

Last run: 205 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

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

1st

7

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 3

14:43 Cartmel

Tread Softly Now

10st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Ian Duncan

Triple winner at up to 2m4f (soft and good); inconsistency tempers confidence in her backing up last month's Perth near-miss (2m4f, good; first-time visor retained), but has staying potential on breeding.

4/1

2nd

7

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:10 Perth

Tread Softly Now

10st 4lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Ayr winner in November (2m3f, soft); some fair form in lower grade events than this since; visor replaces normal cheekpieces.

14/1

4th

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 4

14:47 Ayr

Tread Softly Now

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Ian Duncan

Not one to rely upon heavily but won in good style here (2m3f, soft) in November and has been placed on two of her subsequent four appearances; can make presence felt if in right mood.

3/1

Verdict

Top of the list is MALICASH, who showed plenty of promise with his debut third at Kelso last month and is a big player if he can build on that. Walk On Quest was bought for £100,000 after his second in an Irish point in March and he’s feared most on his rules debut. Al Kalila was just behind the selection at Kelso and should be in the mix again, while there are several newcomers who need a close look including Yakaleo.[David Moon]