April 29 / 17.35 Ayr

17.35

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 1m 5f 26y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Fives Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.10
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 319-52 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Won twice on heavy ground (once over C&D) in the autumn and bumped into a big improver when well-held second at Thirsk (1m4f, heavy) three weeks ago; evidently in good nick but may not be seen to quite the same effect on this less testing ground; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(1)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:30 Ayr

Ebony Maw

9st 1lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual C&D winner; on a losing run of 17 but was seemingly perked up by refitted cheekpieces when third here (1m7f, soft; just behind La Tosca) last month and competes off another career-low mark today.

8/1

3rd

7

(9)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:25 Ayr

Ebony Maw

9st 4lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Ewan Whillans

Won over C&D in 2024 and is well handicapped on some of last year's placed efforts; yet to strike form after two starts this year but is of renewed interest now that tongue-tie and cheekpieces are refitted; versatile regarding ground; dangerous to ignore.

20/1

4th

8

(5)

21st May 2026

Soft

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Ebony Maw

8st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Ewan Whillans

9yo who went 0-11 last year and was soundly beaten on last month's reappearance at Catterick; however, he may have needed that latest run and is on a competitive mark judged on last season's placed form.

9/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 3234-4 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Made good progress last season, winning three times on turf (12.5f-1m6f), and made encouraging reappearance on Tapeta three weeks ago; still on a fairly tough mark but is likely to make her presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(7)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:30 York

Tafsir

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

First visit here; excels at Hamilton, where she was short-headed last month (1m4f, soft), and she was always behind at Ayr on Thursday on a very rare crack at 1m2f (heavy); attempts at this trip have also been scarce but there have been hints that it's a distance at which she could have untapped potential.

16/1

2

(7)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Tafsir

10st 2lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Course winner who was beaten by a short head at Hamilton (1m4f, soft) last time; she excels at Hamilton and has never won over a trip this short, but her surplus stamina may be no bad thing given the testing conditions.

11/2

2nd

2

(1)

22nd Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 4

15:33 Hamilton

Tafsir

9st 12lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Lost a lot of ground at the start at Ayr last Thursday so there's a risk attached on the back of that; however, in the circumstances she did well to finish third of six (beaten just over 9l) and three of her last four wins have come here (on various ground) including this race last year; capable.

6/1

Form: 425252 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Has very modest 1-35 strike-rate but the win was gained over C&D (on good to firm last June) and he returns here after keeping on well for second at Southwell (1m6f, AW) this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:58 Redcar

Billy Bathgate

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

A four-time scorer (including here in 2025); in good nick without winning this season, finding drop to 1m4f against him when a staying-on sixth of 12 at Newcastle last time; this veteran needs considering back up in trip.

4/1

6th

14

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:58 Newcastle (AW)

Billy Bathgate

8st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ewan Whillans

Four wins last season included two here at 2m; never figured in this race last term but he's been in the frame all nine starts this year and was unlucky when fifth at this track in December on his last go at 1m4f; each-way prospects.

14/1

4th

8

(8)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Billy Bathgate

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ewan Whillans

10yo whose easily most successful season was 2025, with four wins; the latest was at this track (2m) in December and he's held his form, including over C&D, so has each-way claims once again.

5/1

Form: 01606- CD

Last run: 235 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Won this race in 2022 and was also successful at Hamilton (1m4f, good to firm) last spring; back on a good mark now but looked out of sorts on latest hurdling start in February and has become very unreliable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(4)

31st May 2024

Soft

2m 1f 47y

Class 6

13:40 Carlisle

Bouncing Bobby

9st 5lb

J: Alex Fielding

T: Martin Todhunter

Back off the same mark as when winning at Hamilton (1m4f, good to firm) last summer and seems to go on any ground, but is still to show that he wants this far on the Flat.

10/1

4th

6

(6)

29th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:35 Ayr

Bouncing Bobby

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Martin Todhunter

Won this race in 2022 and was also successful at Hamilton (1m4f, good to firm) last spring; back on a good mark now but looked out of sorts on latest hurdling start in February and has become very unreliable.

10/1

4th

6

(6)

29th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:35 Ayr

Bouncing Bobby

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Martin Todhunter

Won this race in 2022 and was also successful at Hamilton (1m4f, good to firm) last spring; back on a good mark now but looked out of sorts on latest hurdling start in February and has become very unreliable.

10/1

OUR TIP
5th
3 (8)
Philos

5/2

Form: 913-82

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Three-time AW winner over 1m4f last year; ran right up to best form when keeping-on second over the extended 1m4f at Newcastle a fortnight ago and should be okay back on turf; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(3)

21st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Philos

9st 12lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed Dunlop

took keen hold, midfield

6/1

3rd

3

(9)

26th Jun 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:40 Kempton (AW)

Philos

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Ed Dunlop

All four wins on AW; back to form after a couple of lesser turf efforts when winning at Chelmsford (1m6f; 18-1) this month; recorded back-to-back wins at Wolverhampton/Lingfield last summer and no surprise were he to go in again now upped to 2m for the first time.

4/1

1st

3

(10)

6th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Philos

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Ed Dunlop

Largely in good form over the winter on the AW but he has failed to hit top form in a pair of handicaps at Ayr/York of late; it would come as no surprise to see him return to form here though.

8/1

20/1

Form: 90/08

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Irish raider; well down the field on all four Flat starts (7f-12.7f) and pulled up in both hurdle races since debut in 2020 but makes handicap debut from a lowly mark and connections are persisting; worth keeping an eye on in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(3)

10th Aug 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:45 Ayr

Anjician

9st 9lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Paul Traynor

Still the sense his preferred trip hasn't quite been alighted upon, and this wouldn't be loads weaker than the Hamilton 0-52 handicap of his seldom-dangerous near-7l fifth last time (1m1f); others inspire more.

16/1

5th

4

(2)

19th Jun 2024

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 6

17:25 Hamilton

Anjician

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Paul Traynor

Irish raider; well beaten on all three starts this year, the first two in 7f/1m maidens at Dundalk and the latest over 1m5f on handicap debut at Ayr (1m5f, good; 40-1); hard to fancy.

12/1

Form: /0046-

Last run: 212 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
0-7 and had very mixed record when trained in Ireland but his fourth of 13 at Navan (1m6f, yielding) last summer gives him a shout here; well worth a glance in the betting before this seasonal/stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(4)

10th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

18:10 Catterick

Laudable

8st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Completed a three-timer when winning over C&D (soft) last September off 5lb lower mark; good second over distance short of his best at Ayr (1m, good to firm) last month and should run well back up in trip.

4/1

2nd

4

(4)

21st May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:17 Ayr

Laudable

9st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Tristan Davidson

Won three (1m2f/1m4f) on the spin last August/September; disappointing in his last two races last year and again on reappearance three weeks ago, with 1m (he's unraced over this short since June 2023) a major worry today.

7/1

2nd

4

(4)

21st May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:17 Ayr

Laudable

9st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Tristan Davidson

Won three (1m2f/1m4f) on the spin last August/September; disappointing in his last two races last year and again on reappearance three weeks ago, with 1m (he's unraced over this short since June 2023) a major worry today.

7/1

Non-runners

The Navigator

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.80
Straight Forecast £12.15
Tricast £42.39
Trifecta £61.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Philos

Daily Mail:

Tafsir

RP RATINGS:

Ebony Maw

POSTDATA:

Billy Bathgate

NEWMARKET:

Philos

Telegraph:

Philos

The Guardian:

Philos

D Express:

Philos

Daily Mirror:

Philos

The Sun:

Tafsir

The Star:

Tafsir

Daily Record:

Tafsir

The Times:

Ebony Maw