March 08 / 15.00 Ayr

15.00

Soft

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 4f 100y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
RTV
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 094214 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Bumped into revitalised opponent when second here (2m, soft) on handicap debut in December and was evidently suited by the move up in trip when winning by 10l over C&D (heavy) in January; managed only fourth at Newcastle last month but remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Follow Charlie

11st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

4-29, including a C&D win (from 2lb lower) at this two-day Perth fixture in 2025; has been competing over 3m recently, failing to get home when fourth to Suspected (beaten over 13l) here three weeks ago; dropping back in trip is in his favour; don't discount hastily.

12/1

4th

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Follow Charlie

11st 13lb

J: Mr Joe Wright

T: R Mike Smith

Has won four times over hurdles, including over 2m4f here last May (good); softer ground no problem but stamina to prove.

11/1

9th

8

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Follow Charlie

11st 1lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Won at Perth (2m4f, good) last May and at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in November, and has run well at up to 3m; now just 1lb above his last winning mark and not running badly this year, but he has to better those recent efforts.

16/1

12/1

  • Place: £6.60

Form: 8-059

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Struggled in two of his three qualifying races but displayed some promise when keeping-on fifth at Kelso (2m, heavy) in between; upped in trip for today's handicap debut; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

19:30 Perth

Master Bricklayer

11st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-8 over hurdles; placed off today's mark at Ayr (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in February but pulled up both runs either side; not yet proven over 3m or on good ground; tricky to predict on chase debut.

5/1

3

14th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

19:30 Perth

Master Bricklayer

11st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-8 over hurdles; placed off today's mark at Ayr (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in February but pulled up both runs either side; not yet proven over 3m or on good ground; tricky to predict on chase debut.

5/1

8

8th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Ayr

Master Bricklayer

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: N W Alexander

Made the frame last spring in first two handicaps (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and returned to form when third in first-time cheekpieces (retained) here (2m4f, soft) last month; there's stamina in his pedigree and today's step up in trip could eke out some improvement.

11/2

20/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 2-3529 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
1-16 over hurdles, the win gained in 2022; kept on for modest second behind Follow Charlie over C&D (heavy) in January but was never seriously involved over 3m here last month; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

14:41 Hexham

Lewa House

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Catch Bissett

Runner-up in this event 12 months ago but he's yet to hit top form this term and came in a well-held sixth back hurdling in 2m4f Ayr handicap last month; still can't be totally discounted returning here off a reduced mark.

14/1

Form: 3-1831

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Opened account over 2m in the autumn and took form to whole new level when winning readily by 17l in first-time cheekpieces at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) 11 days ago; 5lb ahead of the handicapper under 7lb penalty here; needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:22 Ffos Las

Weavers Answer

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Placed on final three outings last season, most recently when third of ten at Taunton (3m, good) in March; remains on career-high mark for this reappearance but won't be far away if fully tuned up.

5/1

3rd

1

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Weavers Answer

12st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Back on track with two good seconds this winter, the latter at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last month, and ought to handle the faster ground here; can make his presence felt again.

4/1

2nd

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Lingfield

Weavers Answer

11st 10lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Dual hurdle winner who got back on track with a second at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft) in December and the first three pulled well clear in that race; looks interesting off unchanged mark and he's still unexposed as a stayer.

7/2

Form: 0099

Last run: 149 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Irish raider; raced too freely and never really got involved when 33-1 for handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in October; considered only if much stronger in the betting here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

30th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 185y

14:20 Downpatrick

Kilkee Royal

11st 8lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

0-6 over hurdles for Jamie Sloan; ran okay in an Ayr handicap this time last year but first-flight faller on recent return to action at Leopardstown when tongue-tie tried on yard debut.

14/1

16

2nd Mar 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:57 Leopardstown

Kilkee Royal

10st 7lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

0-6 over hurdles for Jamie Sloan; ran okay in an Ayr handicap in March of last year off 97 and is 7lb lower now; lacks a recent run and is tongue tied for his first run for Dermot McLoughlin; best watched.

25/1

Form: 08-6P6

Last run: 73 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when joint-favourite for handicap debut at Hexham in November (2m) and weakened into sixth at Wetherby (2m3f) on Boxing Day; arrives here in need of improvement but was given a wind op in January and it would be reckless to write him off at this stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

17:36 Perth

One Step Up

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

held up in rear

25/1

10

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

17:36 Perth

One Step Up

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

held up in rear

25/1

4

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

14:20 Hexham

One Step Up

11st 3lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

led, not fluent 7th

15/2

Form: 432689 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Safely held on all three starts since returning from a break in January but didn't run badly at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) on latest occasion; sure to appreciate today's ease in grade and will be suited by the move back up in trip; well worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:55 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won four on the bounce here last summer (2m6f-3m1f; soft/good) but has looked a little out of sorts this season, for all that he shaped a bit better last time after further wind surgery.

14/1

5th

11

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

City Derby

10st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft); lurks on a good mark but looked out of sorts here on both appearances this season and needs recent wind op to have made a difference; tongue-tie refitted.

16/1

9

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft), including this race a year ago; needs to rebound from a disappointing run here (3m1f) last month but is back on a workable mark and can't be ruled out.

12/1

Form: 2-6637

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Has not yet delivered on his bumper promise over hurdles, and was quickly left behind when the pace lifted in 2m3f Taunton novice last month; might be boosted by first-time visor on this handicap debut, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

8th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Ayr

Broomhill Road

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Has not yet delivered on his bumper promise over hurdles, and was quickly left behind when the pace lifted in 2m3f Taunton novice last month; might be boosted by first-time visor on this handicap debut, though.

10/1

7th

4

6th Feb 2024

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

14:20 Taunton

Broomhill Road

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Showed some ability in his two bumpers but remote at 20-1 in both his hurdle races.

33/1

3rd

6

23rd Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

11:57 Market Rasen

Broomhill Road

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Fair efforts in both bumpers (2m, good) and he could improve for last month's hurdle debut at Exeter (2m2f, good); however, he was well beaten last time and needs a sizeable step forward here.

12/1

Form: 2-4173 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles here (2m2f, soft) in December, his fifth attempt, and put a lesser effort behind him when keeping-on third at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) last month; not yet fully exposed; enters calculations.
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

Form: P-2150 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Displayed significant improvement to win easily at Kelso (2m5f, soft) in November, his ninth start over hurdles, but was not in same form on either subsequent appearance and now has a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:10 Ayr

Eden Mill

10st 5lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

in touch with leaders

7/1

7th

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:10 Ayr

Eden Mill

10st 5lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

Sole win came at Kelso (2m5f, soft) in November 2023 off 3lb lower mark; pulled up when last seen in March last year but wind surgery and the subsequent break may have helped.

7/1

Form: 8P4852

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Respectable fifth on handicap debut at Newcastle (2m6f, heavy) in January and also ran quite well when remote second to a big improver at Carlisle (2m1f, heavy) last month; considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 2/9407

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Unexposed after only four hurdling starts but was well beaten over C&D (soft; first-time tongue-tie) on last month's handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

8th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Ayr

Vive De Charnie

10st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Unexposed after only four hurdling starts but was well beaten over C&D (soft; first-time tongue-tie) on last month's handicap debut.

33/1

7th

9

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:45 Ayr

Vive De Charnie

10st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Second to a useful one in soft-ground Fontwell bumper two years ago but, following a long absence, has struggled in three maiden/novice hurdles (2m-2m4f) for new stable this season; makes handicap debut off a lowly mark but yard has more obvious chance with Fiveafterfour; tongue-tie added.

14/1

13th

13

6th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:40 Newcastle

Vive De Charnie

10st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in last, bad mistake 4th, soon detached

33/1

Non-runners

Not In Kansas

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £86.10
Straight Forecast £80.46
Tricast £596.32
Trifecta £700.00

Selections

The Guardian:

Weaver's Answer

RP RATINGS:

Follow Charlie

POSTDATA:

Beat The Retreat

Daily Record:

Kingston Rock

The Star:

One Step Up

SPOTLIGHT:

City Derby

Telegraph:

Follow Charlie

The Sun:

Follow Charlie

The Times:

Beat The Retreat

Daily Mail:

Weaver's Answer

D Express:

Weaver's Answer

Daily Mirror:

Weaver's Answer