December 20 / 12.25 Ayr

12.25

Soft

Ayrshire Wedding Show At Ayr Racecourse Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3168.6
  • 2m 2f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Ayrshire Wedding Show At Ayr Racecourse Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.80
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 6342-4

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Glimpses of ability in bumpers and over hurdles, although beaten 24l when runner-up in a 2m maiden here (good, 20-1) in March; didn't offer much at Kelso (2m6f) three weeks ago on return from wind surgery; drops back in distance and his trainer also saddles High Roller.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th May 2026

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:25 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 8lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won two of his last four, accounting for Snow Dragon at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft; from 4lb lower) in February; the snag is that the other two efforts were laboured ones, beaten 28l into fourth over 2m here (good) three weeks ago; this longer trip can assist.

8/1

4th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Inconsistent but won at Ayr (2m3f, heavy) in December and returned to form to win at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February on his latest start; ran well on good ground here last May and it's possible he'll cope with the drop back in trip; he can be in the shake-up if on another going day.

7/1

1st

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

16:50 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

11st 2lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Three-time winner, most recently at Ayr (2m3f) on penultimate start; however, by no means certain to repeat that form, being far from consistent otherwise.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 9-4352

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Point winner (2m4f); twice placed over hurdles, running well back from a break at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) when runner-up; now 2lb higher but does have a 10lb claimer booked, which could aid his cause from a handicapping perspective.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Dance Thief

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: R Mike Smith

Won a five-runner handicap chase at Ayr in March (2m, soft) but well beaten both starts since (latest over hurdles); conditions suit; a possible.

14/1

10th

13

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Dance Thief

10st 13lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: R Mike Smith

All three wins have been here, a hurdle and two chases; over fences for his last three races and has been good and bad; others preferred.

33/1

9th

5

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Dance Thief

11st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Pulled up on his return to fences but then beat three other finishers at Ayr (2m, soft) with Ben Smith claiming his 7lb; only 3lb higher but this is a deeper race.

8/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 744

Last run: 203 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Low-key in three attempts under rules (2m-2m5f; regularly wore cheekpieces) for Neil Mulholland but runner-up in all three starts in points, including for this trainer at Loughanmore (3m, soft) in October; switches to handicapping from a low mark, so needs a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

20th Jul 2024

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

14:15 Cartmel

Ambush Annie

10st 11lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Runner-up on all three starts pointing in Ireland; best hurdles run when third at Ayr in January (2m4f, heavy) but modest run in a Kilbeggan mares' maiden last time (2m3f, good to yielding; rider said hung left throughout); a possible on chase debut.

6/1

8th

6

12th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 60y

16:25 Kilbeggan

Ambush Annie

10st 13lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Formerly with Neil Mulholland and okay efforts for current yard in Ayr handicaps last winter; good bit to find back in maiden company.

25/1

4th

14

2nd Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:15 Ayr

Ambush Annie

10st 12lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Formerly with Neil Mulholland; finished around 15l behind Beat The Retreat when third of 14 on stable/handicap debut here (2m2f, soft) 13 days ago; improvement needed, but the step back up in trip should suit and she is now 7lb better off; shortlisted.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 24

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
0-5 in points; strongest in the market when caught close home on rules and stable debut at Kelso (2m maiden, soft) in October, but predictably found life tough in a Grade 2 at Haydock (66-1) next time; likely be competitive switched to handicapping for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Flash Du Pistolet

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Two wins over fences, one over C&D, in March 2025 (good/good to soft); ran one of his best races since when second at Hexham (1m7f, good) last time and should go well again.

9/2

2nd

6

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Flash Du Pistolet

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Mixed form this term but when soundly beaten at Carlisle last time he was in a competitive series final; now just 2lb higher than when readily completing a double at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) last March so can go well if back on song; tongue-tie added to cheekpieces adopted last time.

12/1

7th

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Flash Du Pistolet

10st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

This month last year he won successive handicap chase at 2m4f (good) and 2m1f (good to soft); hasn't recaptured that form (beaten 12l when second two runs ago) but cheekpieces are now given a go.

20/1

Form: 588

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten all three starts (2m-2m4f novices'); half-brother to a 2m1f hurdle winner and it's possible that the switch to handicapping can show him in a more favourable light; difficult to consider though unless the market speaks positively.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

17:02 Hexham

Am Still Here

11st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Placed in all five chases, the first two over C&D in May (good to soft/good); bumped into an improver when clear second at Perth (3m, good) in August and will be a tough nut to crack here if last month's wind op makes any positive difference.

7/2

5

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

18:38 Perth

Am Still Here

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Bang there in all four races since switched to fences and he was running on last time at Cartmel (2m5f); this trip is well worth exploring.

4/1

6

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:50 Cartmel

Am Still Here

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Runner-up in all three chases, most recently when going close over C&D (soft; also suited by good) last month; continues to creep up the weights but seems very likely to be on the premises again.

4/1

Form: 4/373-

Last run: 270 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Raised his game when fitted with a first-time tongue-tie at Kelso (2m novices', soft; third, 10-1) in March; absent since, and has undergone further wind surgery in the interim; should cope this extra yardage, but possibly best watched on handicap debut; stablemate of Beat The Retreat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: /5346-

Last run: 422 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Twice fared okay at Perth (2m, maiden/novice hurdles) during the summer 2022, without necessarily appearing a winner in waiting; ran better than the finishing position suggests here - made a late mistake - on chase/handicap debut that October but absent since; a place possible back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

8th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Ayr

Toucan Sam

10st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

His mark continues to fall but this 7yo remains a maiden after 21 rules starts and recent evidence doesn't indicate a win is imminent.

25/1

10

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:20 Doncaster

Toucan Sam

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

Made it 0-20 under rules when pulled up over fences at Ayr last week; however, before that he posted two fair runs over hurdles (2m5f/2m) and shaped as though he would benefit from this longer trip; well treated on last spring's chase form; could appreciate the return to hurdling; interesting.

33/1

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:20 Ayr

Toucan Sam

10st 13lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

19-race maiden; placed in handicap, a couple of hunter chases and in two points last year; two fair runs over hurdles this term after wind surgery; well handicapped but others appeal more.

20/1

Form: 4P25UF

Last run: 105 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Runner-up off this mark at Perth (3m Cl 4, good to soft) in June, when just finding his stamina reserves overstretched; failed to complete in two starts over fences (Perth & Hexham) for Mike Smith, and has since changed stables; seemingly needs more in order to make it 12th-time lucky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

23rd Oct 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:43 Southwell

Sea Prince

11st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

in touch with leaders, good jump 6th, not fluent 9th, outpaced after 4 out, dropped to last and lost touch 3 out

10/1

6th

4

8th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

15:30 Huntingdon

Sea Prince

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Ended a losing run back hurdling at Worcester (2m) in June but pulled up there 41 days ago; he reverts to fences now with a bit to prove.

25/1

5

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Sea Prince

11st 8lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Belated return to hurdling when scoring by a short head over C&D in June but failed to back that up when behind a couple of these at Uttoxeter; others appeal more.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £78.60
Straight Forecast £77.72
Tricast £291.60
Trifecta £253.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Flash Du Pistolet

RP RATINGS:

Dance Thief

POSTDATA:

Am Still Here

D Express:

High Roller

The Times:

Dance Thief

Telegraph:

Dance Thief

The Guardian:

Dance Thief

THE NORTH:

Flash Du Pistolet

Daily Mail:

Flash Du Pistolet

Daily Mirror:

Flash Du Pistolet

The Star:

Flash Du Pistolet

Daily Record:

Flash Du Pistolet