May 22 / 17.30 Ayr

17.30

Good

Fitzdares Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
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Fitzdares Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 44357-

Last run: 223 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Comes into it on her best course form in 2023 but she's on a losing run that goes back four years and she hasn't been doing well over hurdles in her three most recent starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(7)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:30 Ayr

Golden Valour

9st 2lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: R Mike Smith

Veteran with plenty of course form to his name; third of nine over 1m here last week (winner Runninsonofagun runs in the 4.00); one of three runners for the stable.

10/1

3rd

9

(4)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:30 Ayr

Golden Valour

8st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: R Mike Smith

Veteran who has won three of his 58 races on turf, the latest over this trip at Musselburgh last September (good); has been a bit disappointing this season.

12/1

5th

5

(5)

5th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:50 Ayr

Golden Valour

9st 9lb

J: David Allan

T: R Mike Smith

Veteran who is a C&D winner but has question marks over current form and whether he's still capable of cutting any mustard aged ten; gives classified grade a whirl.

14/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2531-2 C

Last run: 139 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Off since January when going close on AW after a layoff and has claims on his course form last year, over C&D (good; race won narrowly by Retirement Beckons) and when winning over 1m2f in July; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(8)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:30 Ayr

Braes Of Doune

9st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Two wins (7f/1m) in August 2024; best run last season was when second over C&D last May (good to firm); could bounce back from a below-par reappearance run last month.

11/4

6th

3

(6)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:52 Ayr

Braes Of Doune

9st 13lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Largely consistent 8yo who tends to race a bit too freely and is usually ridden patiently; suited by this C&D and quite versatile ground-wise but absent since slightly disappointing run 13 months ago.

16/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 427-97

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Came closest to winning for Roger Varian when a nose second on AW (about 1m) in October; not yet found her form in three starts for new yard, including in first-time visor latest (now discarded).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(6)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

20:40 Hamilton

Pacos Pride

9st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Daragh Bourke

0-28 over various distances; no match for the odds-on winner over 1m1f at Carlisle last week but was 7l clear of the third.

6/1

2nd

8

(6)

4th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 6

20:45 Carlisle

Pacos Pride

9st 0lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Daragh Bourke

27-race maiden; creditable third over 1m4f at Hamilton in June (good) but well beaten since; drop to 1m1f may not be ideal.

16/1

1

(5)

29th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

14:45 Beverley

Pacos Pride

9st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Daragh Bourke

A longstanding maiden who has performed moderately the last twice, but with a good few places to her name she can't be dismissed.

5/1

Form: 38-355

Last run: 95 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Three Polytrack wins at 6f and 7f but she finished remote in her sole 1m handicap two starts ago (made the running) and others are more certain stayers; refitted cheekpieces replace first-time visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Capuchinero

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

Two wins this summer, including at this track (1m) off 3lb higher in July; struggled since but Kieran O'Neill back on board today and a revival wouldn't be a complete bolt from the blue.

33/1

3rd

7

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Capuchinero

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

Two wins this summer, including at this track (1m) off 3lb higher in July; struggled since but Kieran O'Neill back on board today and a revival wouldn't be a complete bolt from the blue.

33/1

9

(6)

22nd Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Capuchinero

9st 8lb

J: Dominique Van Der Kraats

T: Alice Haynes

First win over this far/here came off 1lb higher in July; little of note since and was way off it over C&D last week; wears just a tongue-tie.

25/1

OUR TIP

5/1

Form: 674944 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Winless since successful 2yo debut but on a useful mark now and nearly made it pay on recent return to turf at Leicester (1m, good) when demoted to fourth for causing interference (ran away from the whip); can be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(7)

28th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 5

15:55 Doncaster

Khathak

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: Richard Fahey

0-20 since winning on his debut in 2021 and needs to prove he can get the job done, but he's gone close at Ripon (1m, good) and Chester (7.5f, good) this month and is also effective on fast ground; could be bang there.

9/2

2nd

9

(7)

14th Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 5

16:00 Chester

Khathak

8st 11lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Richard Fahey

in touch with leaders

9/2

3rd

9

(7)

5th Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:25 Ripon

Khathak

8st 11lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

In good form last month, finishing second at Leicester (demoted to fourth due to interference) and close fifth at Ayr; might not be far away but he's 0-20 since winning on debut in 2021; has to prove he can get the job done.

8/1

7/1

Form: -85223 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Two AW wins from 23 attempts and 0-9 on turf but she's run several good races in defeat since the autumn and remains in form; thereabouts without being fancied for the win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(7)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

18:00 Pontefract

Balqaa

9st 9lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

Resumed winning ways in classified event at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in March; winless on turf though and only eighth of 13 in 1m Ripon handicap last time; others appeal more.

12/1

8th

7

(2)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Ripon

Balqaa

9st 7lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

All five wins have came on AW; usually ridden with hold-up tactics and will need plenty of luck in running to get her head in front here.

10/1

5th

5

(4)

17th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

17:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Balqaa

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

It was a classified race she won over C&D last month but this mark isn't beyond her and a slow start was no help at Southwell.

10/1

Form: 153738 CD

Last run: 5 days

W: 8st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Handles most surfaces; four C&D wins include a narrow one over Braes Of Doune last June but he hasn't run well in two of his last three starts and needs a lot more than his Hamilton run on Friday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(6)

7th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

19:45 Newcastle (AW)

Retirement Beckons

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Linda Perratt

Has gone 0-17 since winning over C&D last March at 50-1; ran the odd fair race last year but trailed home last here three weeks ago.

20/1

10th

7

(2)

14th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Retirement Beckons

9st 9lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: Linda Perratt

slowly away

25/1

9/1

Form: 3-5358

Last run: 82 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Sole win at 7f on Tapeta and 0-9 on turf but he's run well in better races than this on grass; an easy 1m on turf should suit and although rather becalmed for David O'Meara in recent AW starts he's well treated back on turf following a 7,500gns sale; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(5)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Concert Boy

8st 11lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Katie Scott

Very rarely goes this far and it's a long time since he won at higher than 0-55 level; always a chance he'll miss the break too and he's some way down the pecking order.

25/1

7th

6

(4)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Ayr

Concert Boy

9st 8lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Katie Scott

Well handicapped on pick of this year's AW form but finished well down the field on both starts last month (1m1f/7f) and is now 0-23 on turf.

40/1

8th

6

(8)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

15:15 Musselburgh

Concert Boy

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Katie Scott

Kept busy and largely in good form without winning on the AW this season; beat one back on turf in 1m1f Carlisle handicap two weeks ago though so has a bit to prove.

25/1

Non-runners

Covert Legend

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £39.30
Straight Forecast £31.42
Tricast £374.73
Trifecta £541.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Covert Legend

The Guardian:

Braes Of Doune

D Express:

Concert Boy

NEWMARKET:

Capuchinero

Daily Mirror:

Balqaa

POSTDATA:

Retirement Beckons

RP RATINGS:

Covert Legend

THE NORTH:

Covert Legend

The Times:

Covert Legend

Telegraph:

Covert Legend

Daily Mail:

Covert Legend

The Sun:

Covert Legend

The Star:

Braes Of Doune

Daily Record:

Braes Of Doune