December 20 / 15.20 Ayr

15.20

Soft

Merry Christmas From Ayr Racecourse Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Category 3 Elim’) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £2178.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Merry Christmas From Ayr Racecourse Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Category 3 Elim’) (GBB)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2

Last run: 191 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
100-30, kept on for promising second on debut at Roscommon (2m, yielding to soft) in June; holds leading form claims on this second start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Ayiko

10st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: S R B Crawford

He can make mistakes and was pulled up at Fairyhouse just 12 days ago in first-time cheekpieces (retained); however, he jumped to the left and returns to a left-handed track for the first time since his promising second on chase debut at Haydock (2m4f, soft); won 3m maiden hurdle here; interesting.

25/1

10

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

17:40 Fairyhouse

Ayiko

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: S R B Crawford

Bumper and maiden hurdle winner, both at Ayr; best of three chase efforts came at Haydock in December when 2l behind the 124-rated Lario; has run well here over timber and he can't be fully dismissed in a new headgear combination.

9/1

5th

4

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

16:13 Down Royal

Ayiko

11st 8lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

124-rated hurdler was beaten 2l on his chase debut at Haydock (2m4f, soft) and that form has been boosted by the third who has won twice since; beaten 4.5l over 3m in a Carlisle handicap chase on latest; could do better dropped back in trip; chance.

7/2

11/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2 BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sent off the 5-4 favourite when a nose second of 15 on last month's debut over C&D (good to soft); his dam was a French Listed hurdle winner and he could have plenty more to offer for his good yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Junker DAllier

11st 10lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

A three-time hurdles winner (around 2m) last season; failed to go on in three starts over fences this term and he was pulled up back in this sphere at Warwick (2m5f) last month; player in this grade if first-time cheekpieces spark a revival.

5/2

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Junker DAllier

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 3

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Belied 28-1 odds when close third of 15 under Brian Hughes (who remains on board) on debut over C&D last month (good to soft; Junker D'Allier second); open to improvement and entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

14:11 Hexham

Cushendun

11st 7lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

0-7 (0-4 over hurdles) but he went close over C&D (heavy) in December on his second hurdle start and again ran well when third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) recently; has shown promise on good to soft ground; leading claims.

11/4

3rd

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:32 Ayr

Cushendun

11st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Still a maiden but was beaten only half a length by Tashkhan at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in December and is 7lb better off with that rival; below that form when sixth of eight finishers at Ayr (2m4f, soft) the following month and needs to bounce back.

5/1

3rd

4

16th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Cushendun

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ian Duncan

Made a promising start when a 28-1 third at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in November and he filled the same position with his rallying effort back there (soft) the following month; has ability but he didn't really improve last time and needs to raise his game.

9/1

Form: 3

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won an Irish mares' maiden point (3m, soft to heavy) in April on her third start and again showed promise when third of five on bumper debut at Bangor (2m, heavy) on Friday; she reappears swiftly but this half-sister to top-class hurdler The New One is a likeable prospect for her good yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Josie Alice

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner who has finished in the frame in two bumpers and four hurdles, including on March's handicap debut at Hexham (2m7f) when appearing not to last home on testing ground; bettered that over 2m4f since, shaping as though she'd be worth another go at this distance given a sounder surface; interesting off 2lb lower.

7/1

6th

6

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Josie Alice

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner who has finished in the frame in two bumpers and four hurdles, including on March's handicap debut at Hexham (2m7f) when appearing not to last home on testing ground; bettered that over 2m4f since, shaping as though she'd be worth another go at this distance given a sounder surface; interesting off 2lb lower.

7/1

4th

5

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Josie Alice

11st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner who has finished in the frame in two bumpers and three hurdles, including on handicap debut here last time when appearing not to stay 2m7f; interesting down in trip.

15/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam unraced sister to Flat and high-class hurdle winner Iktitaf; in-form trainer has eyecatching 32% strike-rate in bumpers here in the past five seasons and no surprise to see a bold show on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Young Getaway

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won a maiden hurdle at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last February and went close in a novice hurdle here (2m, good) next time; makes chase/handicap debut following a year off but with his trainer in phenomenal form; could have a big part to play, especially if strong in the betting.

7/2

2nd

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:18 Hexham

Young Getaway

11st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

prominent on inner, switched right and headway approaching last, challenging last, switched left and repeatedly short of room run-in, stayed on and went second final strides

6/4

2nd

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:18 Hexham

Young Getaway

11st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

prominent on inner, switched right and headway approaching last, challenging last, switched left and repeatedly short of room run-in, stayed on and went second final strides

6/4

Form: 3

Last run: 39 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) last month; open to improvement and could have a big say.
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
£20,000 3yo; first foal; dam unraced half-sister to useful bumper and 2m3f hurdle winner Hollies Pearl out of smart triple bumper winner; should have a future but he may be one for further down the line.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.30
Straight Forecast £7.08
Trifecta £37.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ayiko

POSTDATA:

Junker D'Allier

The Guardian:

Young Getaway

Daily Mirror:

Malicash

Telegraph:

Junker D'Allier

Daily Record:

Junker D'Allier

RP RATINGS:

Ayiko

The Times:

Ayiko

Daily Mail:

Ayiko

D Express:

Ayiko

The Sun:

Ayiko

The Star:

Ayiko