March 09 / 16.53 Ayr

16.53

Soft

Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Go North Jodami Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2450.7
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Go North Jodami Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £30,000 after winning a 2m4f British point; the runner-up has now finished runner-up in all three points; should have a future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Kingston James

11st 8lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish

7/1

2nd

4

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Kingston James

11st 8lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish

7/1

1st

2

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

17:00 Musselburgh

Kingston James

11st 12lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Point/bumper winner who landed a Hexham novice (2m, good) in October but has a mixed record since and was only eighth of ten on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; edging down the weights and is still unexposed in this sphere but others are more convincing.

15/2

5/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 0-4

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved to be a 12l fourth at Fairyhouse (soft) two months ago in a race won by Champion Bumper contender Romeo Coolio, while the second has won since; major player in this with tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

5th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Step Out

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

took keen hold, disputing third

6/1

3rd

5

5th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Step Out

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

took keen hold, disputing third

6/1

6th

2

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 50y

16:35 Down Royal

Step Out

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Winning hurdler is 0-5 in chases but has run well in defeat, including at this venue over 16.5f (good to yielding) back in January; won at 2m6f over hurdles but has stamina to prove for this trip; doesn't look a certain stayer on breeding and others appeal more.

100/30

12/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
19,000euros 3yo; ninth foal; half-brother to prolific 2m6f-3m2f hurdle/chase winner Dreamsoftheatre and 2m4f hurdle/2m7f chase winner Definitly Grey; dam unraced half-sister to 2m-2m4f jumps winner Dom Fontenail; stable won this last year and also runs Yakaleo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Saracen Beau

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced; second hurdles win at Doncaster in March (second run at 2m5f, good to soft); stiffer task on this 7lb higher mark but a chance.

7/2

1st

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 181y

Class 4

16:20 Doncaster

Saracen Beau

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won an Ayr novice in November 2024 (2m, good to soft); subsequently finished runner-up in a 2m4f handicap chase; fair third back over hurdles at Newcastle last time (2m1f, good to soft) and could go well back up to 2m4f.

7/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; dam 2m-2m4f hurdle winner, half-sister to smart 2m3f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner Junction Fourteen; stable has done well in bumpers this season so she needs a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

13:55 Perth

Madame Bluebelle

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

in touch with leaders, outpaced before 3 out

100/1

4th

6

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

13:55 Perth

Madame Bluebelle

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

in touch with leaders, outpaced before 3 out

100/1

4th

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

14:30 Ayr

Madame Bluebelle

11st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

prominent, weakened quickly after 3 out

25/1

Form: 6

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has winners in the family and was too free to do himself justice when beating one home at Musselburgh (soft; 20-1); could show more here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Saratoga Steve

11st 1lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in last, mistake and unseated 2nd

20/1

8

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Saratoga Steve

11st 1lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in last, mistake and unseated 2nd

20/1

9th

6

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:00 Perth

Saratoga Steve

11st 3lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Showed more at Ayr last time but was still beaten about 10l and looks a work in progress.

25/1

Form: 3

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
65,000euros 3yo; strong in the betting at 9-4 when close up on good to soft at Musselburgh in a race that's worked out well; can surely improve on that.
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

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; dam placed French 2m/2m1f hurdles, closely related to winners Anythingforlove (bumper/2m-2m4f hurdle) and Scholastica (bumper/2m-2m5f hurdle), half-sister to 2m-3m2f hurdle/top-class chase winner Sizing John; stable wins the odd bumper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

5th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

16:30 Musselburgh

Theatre Chief

11st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

pressed winner, prominent 6th, lost ground before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

66/1

6th

10

5th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

16:30 Musselburgh

Theatre Chief

11st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

By Dartmouth out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Sizing John; well-beaten 16-1 shot in an Ayr bumper on debut (2m, good); more needed on hurdles debut.

66/1

7th

8

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Theatre Chief

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

took keen hold, towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, soon lost touch

16/1

Form: 7

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Led early but was tailed off when 40-1 for debut on soft ground here in December.
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

Non-runners

Alkaid, Balking

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.00
Straight Forecast £21.38
Trifecta £116.70

Selections

The Times:

Yakaleo

SPOTLIGHT:

Step Out

Daily Mirror:

Balking

Telegraph:

Kingston James

The Guardian:

Yakaleo

D Express:

Yakaleo

The Sun:

Yakaleo

The Star:

Yakaleo

Daily Record:

Yakaleo

POSTDATA:

Step Out

Daily Mail:

Step Out