July 29 / 15.05 Ayr

15.05

Good

Virgin Bet Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 560242 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
She's unraced over a sprint trip but has run really well in defeat over 7f (good) on her last three starts and isn't short of pace, so there can be optimism she'll be fine at 6f; has won here and holds strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(4)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Biplane

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: John Wainwright

Never figured on turf last time (1m) but wasn't far away over 7f here the time before; does stay this far, for all that she's rarely seen over a mile these days.

20/1

7th

5

(1)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

19:40 Thirsk

Biplane

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: John Wainwright

Denied clear run before keeping on well for fifth (just behind Clear Angel) at Haydock (1m, good) last month and again ran well when third at Southwell (7f, AW) a fortnight ago; continues to edge down the weights; each-way claims at least.

7/1

6

(3)

1st Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:40 Southwell (AW)

Biplane

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: John Wainwright

Denied a clear run when fifth over 1m at Haydock a fortnight ago and has returned to the mark she scored from over 6f at Newcastle in February; also has winning form here; another who has to enter the reckoning.

9/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 708041 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
8yo who is not the force of old but she exploited a reduced mark and snapped a long losing run when making all over C&D (good) a fortnight ago; that may have given her confidence a boost and a 5lb rise may not stop her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(6)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

17:35 Musselburgh

Sound Of Iona

9st 7lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Only 12th at Ayr (6f) two runs back but running well otherwise and came from behind off a strong pace to win here last night over 5f; has the penalty but as big a worry is that she's 0-7 beyond 6f.

5/1

1st

4

(11)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

19:18 Musselburgh

Sound Of Iona

9st 6lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

in touch with leaders, switched right 1f out, headway to lead inside final furlong, kept on

9/1

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: 833526

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
3yo who went close on handicap debut at Doncaster (6f, good) this month and failed to settle when sixth of 14 there (7f, good) last time; could have more to offer now back down in trip and he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Hamilton

Highland Olly

9st 5lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Made all twice in a row in April (8.3f/1m, good); down the field at York (7f, good) but that was in a big field and he raced wide; could bounce back with a bold show if conditions suit (well beaten on soft going last November but displayed signs of promise on such ground early in career).

7/1

15th

16

(10)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 York

Highland Olly

9st 5lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Has done all his winning on good ground, including over 1m at Nottingham and Ripon in last two starts; this front-runner switches to a much bigger field, which may not be ideal, but is otherwise at the top of his form; effective at 7f.

15/2

1st

1

(8)

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Ripon

Highland Olly

9st 12lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Built on Wolverhampton comeback run (7f) when showing a willing attitude to make all at Nottingham (8.5f, good) last Saturday; 3lb rise isn't insurmountable but he is set to compete from a career-high mark, so further progress is required.

9/2

Form: 5-0464 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Has been operating off a basement mark for a while now without success, with her last win coming over C&D in July 2022; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(6)

29th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Earn Your Stripes

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: R Mike Smith

dwelt start, towards rear

12/1

8th

10

(6)

29th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Earn Your Stripes

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: R Mike Smith

dwelt start, towards rear

12/1

4th

9

(7)

14th Oct 2024

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

16:55 Musselburgh

Earn Your Stripes

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: R Mike Smith

Has produced some fair performances this season but hasn't really threatened and she remains winless since summer 2022; others preferred.

16/1

Form: 03U786 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
C&D winner whose mark continues to fall and he showed some good AW form earlier this year; however, he's without a win on turf since 2019 and he's been unable to threaten on grass on his recent starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

(9)

17th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Gobi Sunset

9st 4lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Front-runner and dual C&D winner, the latest from 5lb higher just under a year ago; 0-16 in the meantime, though, and needs to do better than when returned to the AW at Southwell (7f, Tapeta) a fortnight ago; stable also runs Novak.

12/1

5th

4

(7)

3rd Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Gobi Sunset

9st 8lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Iain Jardine

Not been in much form off his lower turf mark this season, coming 12lb down the weights; is 3lb lower than when last seen on the AW but it may just be he's on the downgrade now.

6/1

5th

3

(1)

29th Jul 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:05 Ayr

Gobi Sunset

9st 6lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

C&D winner whose mark continues to fall and he showed some good AW form earlier this year; however, he's without a win on turf since 2019 and he's been unable to threaten on grass on his recent starts.

8/1

Form: 554695 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
He's tumbled to a dangerous mark and his fifth over C&D (good to firm) three weeks ago was a step back in the right direction; however, he needs to take another if he's to return to winning ways this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(8)

8th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Ballyare

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lucinda Russell

One-time useful sprinter but his powers are on the wane; showed he could still cut it at this level when a close fourth over C&D last month but he'll need the pace to collapse if he's to end his barren spell.

8/1

7th

2

(8)

8th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Ballyare

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lucinda Russell

One-time useful sprinter but his powers are on the wane; showed he could still cut it at this level when a close fourth over C&D last month but he'll need the pace to collapse if he's to end his barren spell.

8/1

5th

7

(1)

18th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ballyare

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield

15/2

6/1

Form: 551369 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D (good to firm) in May on sole visit here; needs to bounce back from lesser performances at Carlisle and Newcastle but he's not ruled out now back off his last winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(3)

17th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Warminster

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Katie Scott

Well treated on his old form but he's an infrequent winner who has finished down the field in his last six starts and last two have been on Tapeta; down the list.

10/1

6th

6

(10)

1st Feb 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:25 Newcastle (AW)

Warminster

9st 3lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Katie Scott

taken down early, led, headed over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

16/1

6th

6

(10)

1st Feb 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:25 Newcastle (AW)

Warminster

9st 3lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Katie Scott

taken down early, led, headed over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

16/1

Non-runners

Chookie Dunedin

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.00
Straight Forecast £9.98
Tricast £23.27
Trifecta £28.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Sound Of Iona

SPOTLIGHT:

Biplane

The Times:

Highland Olly

Daily Mirror:

Highland Olly

THE NORTH:

Biplane

The Guardian:

Biplane

D Express:

Biplane

The Sun:

Biplane

POSTDATA:

Sound Of Iona

Telegraph:

Sound Of Iona

Daily Mail:

Sound Of Iona

The Star:

Sound Of Iona

Daily Record:

Sound Of Iona