April 19 / 16.30 Ayr

16.30

Soft

GS Group “Hands & Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals’/Amateur Riders’) (RE Series Finale) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 4f 100y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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GS Group “Hands & Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals’/Amateur Riders’) (RE Series Finale) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 658011 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won when upped in trip on last month's handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) and followed up at Wincanton (2m4f, soft); came miles clear with an unexposed, well-backed runner-up last time and a 10lb rise may not prevent another win from this progressive 5yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

13th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

14:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Plaisir Des Flos

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

in touch with leaders, not fluent 3rd, dropped to rear after 1st, headway into midfield 7th, went third before 2 out, disputing second run-in, no extra final strides

2/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1-2321

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who was placed on his first three hurdle starts (2m-2m5f) before winning easily at 1-6 at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) last month; his jumping is a work in progress but he's in top hands and it will be no surprise if he is a serious force on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:23 Uttoxeter

Dont Tell Su

11st 12lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, outpaced after 3 out, lost second run-in, kept on

9/4

3rd

3

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:23 Uttoxeter

Dont Tell Su

11st 12lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, outpaced after 3 out, lost second run-in, kept on

9/4

25/1

  • Place: £6.40

Form: -649P8 CD

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won this last year and now 8lb lower; market check advised but this 12yo has been below par on his last few runs; needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:20 Perth

Voix Du Reve

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

Grade 1 chase winner when trained by Willie Mullins; dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f since; best on a sound surface; mostly out of sorts in the past year but is slipping to a dangerous mark.

16/1

5th

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:20 Perth

Voix Du Reve

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

Grade 1 chase winner when trained by Willie Mullins; dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f since; best on a sound surface; mostly out of sorts in the past year but is slipping to a dangerous mark.

16/1

3rd

5

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Voix Du Reve

11st 6lb

J: Mr Dominic Hislop

T: Iain Jardine

Won this last year and now 8lb lower; market check advised but this 12yo has been below par on his last few runs; needs to turn things around.

25/1

Form: -17734

Last run: 64 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Won maiden hurdle at Limerick (2m3f, heavy) in November and good third of 14 in Naas handicap (2m2f, soft) in January; fair fourth on chase debut at Clonmel last time; represents good Irish trainer and jockey Paddy Hanlon is 3-10 in Britain; contender now back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

6th Sep 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 40y

18:15 Kilbeggan

Quest With Speed

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Decent (115-rated) hurdler took a step forward on latest of three attempts chasing when fourth in 2m4f Wexford handicap; place claims.

10/1

4th

3

7th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 130y

18:45 Wexford

Quest With Speed

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Winning hurdler, rated a respectable 115; made mistakes when fourth on chase debut at Clonmel; soundly beaten in third in a recent C&D event; needs to raise his game.

10/1

Form: 763242

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:18 Uttoxeter

Front View

11st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Formerly a very useful 2m chaser/hurdler for Joseph O'Brien; not as good these days although fair hurdle runs when second at Haydock in December (3m1f, heavy) and at Exeter in March (2m5f, soft); cheekpieces tried; each-way chance.

10/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

Form: 421414 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
2-2 over C&D, those wins coming comfortably under Ben Smith in handicaps this year (heavy/good to soft); fair fourth at Carlisle last time and this unexposed 5yo could have more to offer now back here; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Follow Charlie

11st 10lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Has gained both wins over C&D; below par last two starts, latest when last of six finishers over C&D (soft) in first-time cheekpieces (retained); increasingly hard to predict but is only 1lb above last winning mark.

7/1

5th

2

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Follow Charlie

11st 10lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

in touch with leaders

7/1

6th

7

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

15:40 Ayr

Follow Charlie

10st 11lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Goes well here; two C&D wins last season and best run this term was when third over C&D in November (good); cheekpieces tried; each-way chance.

9/1

Form: -4173P C

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent and 3lb out of the handicap today; pulled up over C&D last month after bad mistake four out; however, he won here (2m2f, soft) in December and also kept on well when third at sharp Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February; only five and open to improvement when back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

16:05 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

10st 4lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

midfield in centre of group

14/1

8th

13

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

16:05 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

10st 4lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

midfield in centre of group

14/1

Form: 38-03P D

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
With a leading trainer and he's dropped to a dangerous mark; could get back on track at some stage and a market check is advised, but he's struggled on his three outings this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Rocky Man

11st 9lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

With a leading trainer and he's dropped to a dangerous mark; could get back on track at some stage and a market check is advised, but he's struggled on his three outings this season.

12/1

8th

3

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Rocky Man

11st 9lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

With a leading trainer and he's dropped to a dangerous mark; could get back on track at some stage and a market check is advised, but he's struggled on his three outings this season.

12/1

2

12th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

14:00 Catterick

Rocky Man

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

raced wide, took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 6th, outpaced and dropped to rear after 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

11/4

Form: 2U3111

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
4yo who is 3-3 in handicaps (all against older horses) and won easily last month on his first two starts for this yard (2m/2m2f, soft/heavy); his jumping has lacked fluency and he's 18lb higher than last time, but it remains to be seen where the ceiling of his ability lies; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Billytherealbigred

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Likeable 5yo with a 5-9 strike-rate; unbeaten over fences, making all at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October and strong at the finish when following up at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in December; jumped left throughout on second occasion and should be suited by this return to a left-handed track; up in grade today but still has youth on his side and a 7lb rise may not stop him.

4/1

2nd

8

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Billytherealbigred

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Likeable 5yo with a 5-9 strike-rate; unbeaten over fences, making all at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October and strong at the finish when following up at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in December; jumped left throughout on second occasion and should be suited by this return to a left-handed track; up in grade today but still has youth on his side and a 7lb rise may not stop him.

4/1

Non-runners

Kajaki

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £16.70
Tricast £304.49
Trifecta £321.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Plaisir Des Flos

RP RATINGS:

Billytherealbigred

WEST COUNTRY:

Don't Tell Su

TOPSPEED:

Front View

Daily Mail:

Follow Charlie

D Express:

Quest With Speed

Daily Mirror:

Billytherealbigred

Daily Record:

Don't Tell Su

POSTDATA:

Plaisir Des Flos

Telegraph:

Plaisir Des Flos

The Guardian:

Plaisir Des Flos

The Star:

Plaisir Des Flos

The Times:

Front View