April 28 / 17.13 Ayr

17.13

Good

Coral Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 1m 5f 26y
  • Class 6
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Coral Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 448-34 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Veteran who began this season with two very respectable runs, latterly when dead-heating for fourth in much stronger race than this at Musselburgh (12.5f, good) a fortnight ago; sure to be suited by the return to this track; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

(8)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Ayr

Glasses Up

9st 8lb

J: David Allan

T: R Mike Smith

Veteran who led close home over 1m5f here (good to firm) last month, his 13th success; also suited by this shorter trip, but was effectively 3lb below that last winning mark when only fourth over C&D a week later and his new mark has taken effect; younger rivals look better treated.

12/1

4th

6

(2)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:30 Ayr

Glasses Up

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: R Mike Smith

Veteran who was recording his 12th win at the track when leading close home over 1m5f last week; able to race off a 3lb lower mark today and he has to be of interest from a handicapping perspective.

5/1

1st

6

(3)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:05 Ayr

Glasses Up

8st 4lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: R Mike Smith

Long in the tooth now and needs to better his recent efforts but was close third off 4lb higher at Hamilton (1m1f, good to firm) in May and is probably better suited by today's trip; can't rule out.

10/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 5422-7

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Ran well over hurdles in February but was safely held when back on the Flat this month and is now 0-20; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(7)

2nd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

19:50 Hamilton

Vampire Slayer

9st 8lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Daragh Bourke

0-18 on the Flat but he was in fine form over hurdles earlier in the year, winning at Catterick and Sedgefield before good placed efforts at Carlise and Musselburgh; betting to guide back from a break.

7/1

2nd

10

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Vampire Slayer

10st 12lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Daragh Bourke

Won in a first-time visor (retained since) at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in January and easily made all at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) next time; having gone up 9lb he was beaten 9l when third of 14 at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) last time but today's sharper track may help; could make bold bid.

14/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: /0/653

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who arguably ran better than eventual 7l defeat suggests when third of five on recent handicap debut at Nottingham (2m, good; first-time cheekpieces); remains very lightly raced and may benefit from this drop back in trip; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(12)

16th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:15 Carlisle

Agathon

9st 6lb

J: David Allan

T: Rebecca Menzies

C&D scorer comes here on the back of a solid third of six at Catterick (1m6f) 17 days ago; he ought to be in the shake-up.

4/1

3rd

3

(4)

30th May 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

18:53 Catterick

Agathon

9st 7lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Cheekpieces have made the difference and he'll be 1lb higher from tomorrow following last Friday's Pontefract near-miss; return to this longer trip looks in his favour, with Kaiya Fraser taking 3lb off, and he remains low mileage.

5/2

3rd

3

(4)

30th May 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

18:53 Catterick

Agathon

9st 7lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Cheekpieces have made the difference and he'll be 1lb higher from tomorrow following last Friday's Pontefract near-miss; return to this longer trip looks in his favour, with Kaiya Fraser taking 3lb off, and he remains low mileage.

5/2

Form: 7856-0

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden who made a low-key seasonal debut over 1m2f this month; continues to slide down the weights but the combination of longer trip and first-time cheekpieces needs to prompt a better performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(8)

31st Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Stand Strong

9st 1lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Ewan Whillans

Only win came over C&D last August when rated 1lb lower; below form both runs this season but should do better having had wind surgery.

7/1

8th

14

(4)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:20 Carlisle

Stand Strong

8st 6lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Ewan Whillans

Made fairly encouraging seasonal debut at Catterick (2m, good; behind Arctic Fox) last month but his only win from 18 starts came on Tapeta and others have more pressing claims; refitted blinkers replace cheekpieces.

20/1

5th

6

(6)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Stand Strong

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

He lacks a recent outing and was inconsistent last year but reappears on a competitive mark and his trainer won this last year; ran well last May on his sole previous visit to Catterick and could have a part to play.

12/1

Form: 2073-6 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Dual winner at Hamilton last spring (1m4f/1m5f, good), latterly off today's mark; raced a bit too freely and was safely held on this month's reappearance outing but is entitled to have benefited from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(7)

9th Sep 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

14:10 Catterick

Twoforthegutter

10st 8lb

J: Miss Serena Brotherton

T: Christopher Kellett

Kept on well to score at his beloved Hamilton (1m4f, good) four weeks ago; a 5lb rise will make life tougher as he seeks to win away from that Lanarkshire venue for the first time; down the field (sixth) behind Stellarmasterpiece over 1m4f here in April.

7/2

1

(2)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

20:10 Hamilton

Twoforthegutter

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Christopher Kellett

Dual course winner (1m4f/1m5f); form has dipped slightly since finishing runner-up at Carlisle (1m6f, good to firm) in May but, on recent evidence, he's closely matched with today's rivals Crystal Guard and Sugarpiehoneybunch; foolish to dismiss.

12/1

Form: 748-75 CD

Last run: 47 days

W: 8st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Scored for Mohammed Tabti over C&D (good) off a basement mark last spring and bettered his reappearance run when keeping-on fifth at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW) last month; each-way claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(2)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

16:35 Southwell (AW)

Crystal Guard

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Iain Jardine

Dual 1m4f winner on Tapeta elsewhere; placed three times from six starts over this sort of trip on Tapeta and could make the frame from just 2lb above his last winning mark.

12/1

6th

8

(2)

6th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

16:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Crystal Guard

8st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Iain Jardine

No AW win since January 2023 (Newcastle, 12.5f); managed to score at Musselburgh (12.5f, good) last July but fortunes dipped markedly towards the end of the turf season; more than enough to prove after layoff.

16/1

5

(1)

1st Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 6

16:38 Musselburgh

Crystal Guard

9st 2lb

J: Mohammed Tabti

T: Iain Jardine

Won here (12.4f, good) in July and respectable efforts in next two runs but his form nosedived at Hamilton last month; has something to prove again after that and he needs to bounce back; stablemate of Elemental Eye.

12/1

7th
10 (3)
Foshan

33/1

Form: 907-50

Last run: 95 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Didn't run badly off his lowly hurdle mark last month but this 25-race maiden makes very limited appeal on his Flat return; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

19:40 Sedgefield

Foshan

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Adam Nicol

Respectable fifth over C&D (good; first run after wind op) last month and didn't run badly on the Flat a fortnight later (first-time tongue-tie) but he's 0-26 under all codes now and is 6lb out of the weights today.

25/1

7th

7

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

19:40 Sedgefield

Foshan

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Adam Nicol

Respectable fifth over C&D (good; first run after wind op) last month and didn't run badly on the Flat a fortnight later (first-time tongue-tie) but he's 0-26 under all codes now and is 6lb out of the weights today.

25/1

7th

10

(3)

28th Apr 2025

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:13 Ayr

Foshan

8st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Adam Nicol

took keen hold, raced in third, edged left and hampered rival after 1f

33/1

Form: 4-1433 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Began this year with 12.5f AW win in January and stayed on well for third when back on turf at Thirsk (1m4f, good) this month; 1lb lower here and can be seen to better effect if there is more emphasis on stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(1)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Flying Scotsman

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Scored over C&D in January off just 1lb lower; absent since a heavy defeat over hurdles in May but the January win came after a 95-day break; visor the headgear of choice today; more appealing than many.

4/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

9th
8 (8)
Aighear

16/1

Form: 42544/ C

Last run: 560 days

W: 8st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Won over 1m7f here in 2022 and was in fairly good form when last seen in autumn 2023 but it's very hard to gauge how much ability she retains as a 7yo; the market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

(12)

2nd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 5f 16y

Class 5

17:50 Hamilton

Aighear

8st 11lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Not found her best form in 2026 but she's down in the weights and she came good with a pair of Ayr wins on slow ground last autumn; will be more appealing when back down in grade, though.

12/1

5th

4

(4)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

17:10 Hamilton

Aighear

8st 10lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

A two-time winner (at up to 1m7f) last autumn; failed to build on earlier promise when only sixth of eight in 1m5f handicap at Ayr ten days ago; this course winner needs to get back on track.

7/1

6th

6

(4)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:30 Ayr

Aighear

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Won twice on slow ground here in the autumn (1m7f/1m5f) but was behind La Tosca and Ebony Maw when keeping-on fourth here (1m7f, soft) last month and the forecast quicker ground today is not ideal.

12/1

12/1

Form: S07-67

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Became disappointing in Ireland after his 1m4f AW win in February 2024 and, following a layoff, was well beaten on both AW starts for new stable in March (12.5f/1m2f); others have much less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(5)

3rd Sep 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

13:42 Newcastle (AW)

Neddies Boy

9st 1lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Daragh Bourke

Dundalk winner over 1m4f in February 2024, that being his only previous win; has beaten only one rival home in five starts since joining this stable and now has cheekpieces back on having been absent for 200 days; best watched unless the market speaks in his favour.

25/1

12th

12

(2)

11th Jun 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 6

20:40 Kempton (AW)

Neddies Boy

8st 12lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Daragh Bourke

Sole win from 16 starts came on Dundalk AW (1m4f) in February 2024; has failed to beat a rival in three starts since joining this yard; others preferred.

14/1

10th

7

(7)

28th Apr 2025

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:13 Ayr

Neddies Boy

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Daragh Bourke

slightly awkward start, took keen hold, held up in rear

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.70
Straight Forecast £10.37
Tricast £73.28
Trifecta £96.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Flying Scotsman

RP RATINGS:

Glasses Up

The Times:

Vampire Slayer

POSTDATA:

Crystal Guard

The Guardian:

Vampire Slayer

Telegraph:

Flying Scotsman

Daily Mail:

Flying Scotsman

D Express:

Flying Scotsman

The Sun:

Flying Scotsman

The Star:

Flying Scotsman

Daily Mirror:

Glasses Up

Daily Record:

Glasses Up