October 01 / 13.40 Ayr

13.40

Good

Livescore Bet Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Livescore Bet Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 6-0413 D BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Looked good when winning on handicap debut on Lingfield AW (1m) in July and things didn't go entirely to plan when beaten at a short price at Kempton in August; has left Roger Varian since and now goes in a tongue-tie in his first turf handicap; has potential for yard that's 2-7 here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(2)

1st Oct 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Gracious Leader

9st 8lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: George Boughey

midfield, headway from 2f out, led 1f out, faced challenge but kept on inside final furlong

13/8

3rd

11

(6)

14th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Gracious Leader

9st 1lb

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

Gelded prior to his handicap debut at Lingfield three weeks ago (1m, AW) and he saw his race out well to reward odds-on backers; that was only a Class 6 event and he's been hit with an 8lb rise but the runner-up won next time and the form has some merit; still capable of better.

5/2

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -90696

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Classy handicap form in 2023, notably when winning at Goodwood (7f) and then third in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m; both on good to firm); has taken an age to recapture form this year but he caught the eye at Pontefract (1m, good to firm) 12 days ago and has a good mark to exploit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

8th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:58 Nottingham

Urban Sprawl

9st 10lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Already a three-time scorer (around 1m) in 2025 and he comes here on the back of a very good second of 13 in 1m Newcastle handicap; must enter calculations off an unchanged mark.

9/2

2nd

5

(12)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Urban Sprawl

9st 12lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Career win number eight when prevailing narrowly in a Class 4 at Beverley (extended 1m) and tends to find Class 2s too tough these days, so excused his Doncaster run; only 1-17 on the AW but could be a factor.

14/1

10th

12

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Urban Sprawl

8st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Charlie Johnston

Tough sort but has done his winning this year in Class 4, including at Beverley (8.5f, good to firm) last time when taking record to 8-55; faces a tougher task back up two grades.

14/1

3rd
2 (3)
Tele Red

9/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 5-2574 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Three 1m wins in 2023 (good to soft and soft), the latest over C&D; two good efforts from four starts in 2024 but he hasn't looked ahead of his mark and likely needs softened ground to level the playing field back at 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(14)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

17:03 Doncaster

Tele Red

10st 1lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

In-form 8yo who recorded a 2l success at Pontefract (1m2f, soft) on Monday, ending two-year losing spell; incurs 4lb penalty but Jack Nicholls takes off useful 5lb; could well remain competitive.

4/1

1st

14

(5)

20th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 4

16:33 Pontefract

Tele Red

9st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

8yo who has been beaten on his last 17 starts going back to October 2023 but he's been runner-up on his last two outings (1m, good/soft), most recently here when beaten a neck; he should be fine now back up to 1m2f and he has a strong record here; could be thereabouts.

9/1

10

(4)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 37y

Class 4

17:15 Haydock

Tele Red

8st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

In form and pretty consistent but he's exposed and hasn't won for almost two years; likely to give his running but vulnerable to younger legs.

12/1

4th
5 (8)
Yaaser

10/1

Form: 047017 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Tough character who ran on all three days of the Western meeting here, fading in the first but a cosy winner from off the pace in the second (1m, good) before understandably flagging the final day; back up 3lb for the win and needs things to fall right.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(4)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:05 Hamilton

Yaaser

9st 6lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Smooth win at Newcastle (7f) in December and now rated 2lb lower; that is a result of beating just one horse home in four subsequent starts; jury out for now.

14/1

9th

4

(9)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Yaaser

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Justified favouritism over C&D in December; not in anything like the same form, beating a total of just one rival, in three outings since.

20/1

9th

6

(1)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

13:05 Newcastle (AW)

Yaaser

9st 10lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Justified favouritism at Newcastle (7f) but failed to match the form in two starts on consecutive days later in December; yet to win over this trip; others preferred.

10/1

5th
9 (6)
Straya

25/1

Form: 575685

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Minor form since showing promise at the start of her career in Ireland and she couldn't make a serious impact back over 1m at Thirsk recently; down another 2lb but it doesn't look enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(2)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:25 Newcastle (AW)

Straya

9st 11lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Katie Scott

Sole win from 22 starts came at Ayr (1m2f, soft) in July; below that level since; however, didn't get much luck in running over this C&D 13 days ago and holds place claims granted a clearer passage.

8/1

4th

1

(6)

29th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Straya

9st 12lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Katie Scott

Off the mark at the 19th attempt at Ayr (1m2f, soft) last month and her next start at Hamilton (1m, good) can be forgiven (saw no daylight); had no obvious excuse back at Ayr (1m2f, good) last time, though, and others are more persuasive.

7/2

3

(10)

28th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:15 Ayr

Straya

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Katie Scott

Well-backed winner over C&D on July 6 (soft; subsequent winner Zebra Star a clear second) and a line can be put through her subsequent run at Hamilton (1m, good) as she was repeatedly short of room; in calculations.

4/1

Form: 106960 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won 1m maiden at Haydock (soft) in April but he hasn't finished nearer than sixth in handicaps since, albeit two of them were in highly competitive races; slipped in weights but hard to know if he's worth his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 4

17:28 Carlisle

Candonomore

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Jennie Candlish

A ready winner at Bath (1m, firm) in April and, having run well over 1m2f in the past, he didn't have a problem with 1m1f when a close third, just behind Ayr Poet, at Ayr since on yard debut; remains on a career-high mark though so a shade more may be needed.

4/1

3rd

2

(11)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 20y

Class 4

14:42 Ayr

Candonomore

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jennie Candlish

Justified favouritism at Bath (1m, firm) on final start for Stuart Williams; sold for 35,000gns since, and begins life for new connections from a 5lb higher mark; has undertaken most of his racing over 7f-1m but does stay (runner-up over 1m2f last June); claims, even if career-best is required.

11/4

1st

4

(6)

27th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Bath

Candonomore

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Stuart Williams

Four wins at 1m and 7f for previous yard; 0-5 for current stable but he's threatening to regain the winning thread, beaten a short head at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) last week when switched back to turf from AW; major contender off the same mark.

9/4

20/1

Form: 407906

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground 7f winner in Ireland; taking time to find his feet for new yard and big weights drop not enough as yet, failing to hold position over 7f here ten days ago; blinkers no help, now tries a hood; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(5)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:05 Hamilton

Starliner

9st 3lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Linda Perratt

Took advantage of his career-low mark when beating Donna Nook at Ayr (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago; not so good at Thirsk last time and he is not the easiest to predict.

9/1

9th

11

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:12 Thirsk

Starliner

8st 12lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Linda Perratt

He'd taken a healthy drop in the weights during an AW spell since December and was able to take advantage at Ayr (1m, good to firm) last week; ought to have another handicap in him off this 2lb higher mark but perhaps in a less competitive race than this.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: -70294 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Never involved on soft ground at Ascot two starts ago but he ran two good races either side of that and didn't appear to get room to breathe at a crucial moment over C&D 12 days ago; thereabouts again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(6)

7th Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

13:55 Musselburgh

Power Of Gold

9st 1lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: John & Sean Quinn

Just one win from his 21 starts but he's been a creditable third on two of his three starts this season, most recently at Chepstow (7f, good); he's probably fine on good to soft; in the mix if he's on another going day.

5/1

3rd

2

(8)

21st May 2025

Good

0m 7f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Chepstow

Power Of Gold

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Sean Quinn

Only 1-20 but his comeback run was encouraging, over 1m at Pontefract; Wetherby next time was disappointing but he did go down by only a neck on his last run over 7f (last August) and he's his Yorkshire-based yard's only runner on the card; Oisin Murphy rides.

6/1

2

(8)

21st May 2025

Good

0m 7f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Chepstow

Power Of Gold

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Sean Quinn

Only 1-20 but his comeback run was encouraging, over 1m at Pontefract; Wetherby next time was disappointing but he did go down by only a neck on his last run over 7f (last August) and he's his Yorkshire-based yard's only runner on the card; Oisin Murphy rides.

6/1

10/1

Form: 651994 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Six of his seven wins have come at Carlisle, the most recent over 7f (good) in August; has also won at 1m and 1m1f there; two moderate efforts followed but he kept his nose to the grindstone over 7f here ten days ago and the return to further will suit; should figure.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(3)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 195y

Class 5

17:10 Carlisle

Detective

8st 10lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Dianne Sayer

Veteran who has loads of Carlisle form, including six wins; however, has become inconsistent with age and isn't guaranteed to give his running.

20/1

9th

11

(5)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Detective

8st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Dianne Sayer

10yo who has an up-and-down profile last year and this is his first run since September; however, he was a good third over C&D (good) on his reappearance last April and won here (1m1f, good) in July; not ruled out each-way.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.50
Straight Forecast £13.90
Tricast £51.52
Trifecta £53.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gracious Leader

THE NORTH:

Tele Red

The Times:

Starliner

POSTDATA:

Power Of Gold

RP RATINGS:

Urban Sprawl

Daily Mirror:

Yaaser

The Guardian:

Gracious Leader

Daily Mail:

Gracious Leader

The Sun:

Gracious Leader

The Star:

Gracious Leader

Telegraph:

Tele Red

D Express:

Tele Red

Daily Record:

Tele Red