January 08 / 14.40 Ayr

14.40

Soft

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 13/

Last run: 1065 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Smart on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute and Keith Dalgleish; showed useful form in two runs over hurdles three seasons ago; an interesting contender on stable debut with a visor tried for first time over jumps (third in a Listed event on only occasion he wore one the Flat) after 843-day break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

2nd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

16:50 Doncaster

Sextant

11st 13lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Smart on the Flat in his heyday and won a novice hurdle in 2020 but, following a mammoth absence, looked reluctant to race and never really got involved when 50-1 for last month's stable/handicap hurdle debut (first-time blinkers); current ability very hard to gauge.

33/1

12th

7

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Sextant

10st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Running well at a useful level on the Flat for Keith Dalgleish when last raced in September 2021; had earlier run twice over hurdles, winning a Carlisle novice before a respectable effort raised in class here; comes with risks after so long out (22-1 when unruly at the post for an intended start at Warwick last month) but he's in good hands and couldn't be ruled out; tries blinkers (has run well in a visor).

25/1

Form: 22P-20 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Seems to go well fresh for was a C&D winner on reappearance last term (good) and also good second in today's headgear at Kelso on reappearance this season (2m, good to soft); not so good last time (blinkers tried but now discarded); needs to bounce back
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Exposed 10yo whose powers would appear to be on the wane judged on this season's performances; opposable.

33/1

11th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ginger Mail

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

10yo whose mark continues to fall and he took a step back in the right direction when third of seven at Ayr a fortnight ago; it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest run but he was beaten just over 7l and certainly needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Boasts two wins around here, one over this distance, but has been below his best this term and was pulled up at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month in race won by Triple Crown Ted; hard to fancy.

16/1

Form: 149-51 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won maiden hurdle last term (2m, soft) and off the mark this season at Ffos Las last time (2m, heavy); progressive; chance off 7lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

Milldam

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Five-time hurdle winner; inconsistent this season and not yet proven over this far but the form of his fifth in a valuable race at Windsor (2m, soft) in January reads very well in this context, and he didn't run badly when fourth at Stratford (2m, soft) last month; big player if on song.

8/1

4th

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Milldam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won this from 3lb lower in 2024; ran creditably at Windsor (2m Class 2; fifth, 20-1) in January but pulled up in a premier handicap at Newbury subsequently; drying ground wouldn't play to his strengths.

20/1

11

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Milldam

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Steadily finding his form this season, respectable fifth to Hot Fuss at Windsor (soft) most recently; may be about to reach boiling point and he'll be particularly interesting if the ground is heavy, having been successful in last four attempts on that surface.

12/1

Form: 411-6P C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner over 2m3f last season, the first on soft going here in November 2022; bit disappointing this season, although has been quite highly tried; interesting down in grade, but shorter trip a slight concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:25 Leicester

Largy Shark

12st 0lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

Two novice hurdle wins in 2022-23 season (including on soft) and he won a point (2m6f, good) last March; bang there when falling at final fence in a point in December; however, not discounted now back under rules.

11/2

5th

8

6th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Largy Shark

11st 12lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: S R B Crawford

towards rear, headway 6th, went second before 7th, pressed leader when pecked on landing 3 out

33/1

5th

8

6th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Largy Shark

11st 12lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: S R B Crawford

towards rear, headway 6th, went second before 7th, pressed leader when pecked on landing 3 out, weakened from 2 out

33/1

Form: 733/4 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Lightly-raced 8yo; looked a useful novice for Stuart Crawford two seasons ago (best run over 2m4f); two fair runs for this yard, the latest when fourth after a long break (and wind surgery) in a C&D novice last month; a possible on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:27 Perth

Leitrim Chief

11st 1lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

11-race maiden who signed off for James Ewart with two poor runs in headgear (now removed) in February/March; makes stable debut from a tempting mark but needs to have been revitalised by his new regime and is untested on ground this quick.

16/1

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:27 Perth

Leitrim Chief

11st 1lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

11-race maiden who signed off for James Ewart with two poor runs in headgear (now removed) in February/March; makes stable debut from a tempting mark but needs to have been revitalised by his new regime and is untested on ground this quick.

16/1

5

7th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

17:10 Ayr

Leitrim Chief

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

Ten-race maiden; fair third over 1m7f at Hexham in April (heavy); subsequently had wind surgery and hasn't run as well since, last time with cheekpieces tried; blinkers on this time and also up in trip (first run at 3m); improvement needed.

8/1

Form: 824131 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Progressive; has won two of his last three races, last time in testing ground at Newcastle (2m1f); now 4lb higher; conditions ideal and an obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Very inconsistent nowadays and needs to bounce back from tame effort in valuable handicap hurdle here three weeks ago but ran well from the front when second in C&D (good) chase in May and has claims if judged on that.

5/1

2

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:50 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Quickly switches back to hurdling after good second over fences here (2m1f, good) last month; does not have much margin for error off current mark but will cope a lot better than some of these if the ground ends up heavy.

8/1

1

24th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:08 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Six-time hurdle winner on soft/heavy ground; reverts to fences on a tempting mark but was well beaten in his only previous chase (in October 2023) and there may not be enough rain about for him today.

3/1

Form: -45116 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Veteran who was in good form in November, winning twice over 2m on testing ground at Hexham; not so good here last time, but testing ground suit so not without a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Serious Ego

11st 13lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

held up in rear, no impression from 4 out

14/1

Verdict

There are several to consider here, including last month’s Newcastle winner Horn Cape and the lightly-raced Sextant, but the selection is Lambourn raider MILLDAM who has his ideal conditions and is preferred to Leitrim Chief, who should improve on his recent C&D fourth.[Colin Russell]