August 09 / 19.42 Ayr

19.42

Good

Christmas Parties At Western House Hotel Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Christmas Parties At Western House Hotel Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 699033 D BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Done most winning in the second half of the year and has come back to form lately after a quiet spring; well suited by easy, turning courses and holds obvious claims off the same mark as for last weekend's Chester third.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

13

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Empirestateofmind

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Multiple wins at 1m and 1m1f (good or softer) include two over C&D; quite favourably treated now and he was a very respectable fourth at Ripon recently, when just behind a subsequent winner; needs a bit more here.

16/1

4th

2

(6)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

Empirestateofmind

9st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two wins last year (1m/1m1f, good/soft); the last of them came in a seller and he was well beaten on last month's reappearance at Doncaster, but that was the competitive Spring Mile and he may have needed the run; won this in 2022 and he's not discounted off a handy mark.

10/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 273254 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Consistent all year, bar one blip on unsuitable fast ground, and things didn't pan out her way behind Empirestateofmind last time; will want a proper test over this trip round here from the outside stall but is capable if she gets one.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

17:45 Hamilton

Epidavros

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

On a losing run but this C&D scorer comes here in decent nick, fourth of 12 in 1m1f Musselburgh handicap three weeks ago; 2lb out of the handicap here though.

6/1

4th

4

(5)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

16:45 Musselburgh

Epidavros

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

0-12 last year but often ran well, including over C&D, and she reappeared with a solid fourth here (1m, good) a fortnight ago; has a chance.

11/2

4th

6

(8)

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Epidavros

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

Both wins (7.7f/1m1f) in September 2024, but 0-13 since; now back off her last winning mark, but she may just need this after 194 days off.

16/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 644-23 C BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Resumed from a ten-month break in good form and a 4lb swing entitles him to at least close the gap on Boy Dougles from 12 days ago; will do well to lead as he likes with Two B Tanned in here, though, and there's little wiggle room off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:12 Ayr

Kelpie Grey

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Went off the boil towards the end of last season and also below his best on last month's reappearance at Musselburgh, taking his losing sequence to 15; however, this two-time C&D winner may have needed that latest outing and he's well handicapped on last year's best course form; not ruled out.

4/1

6th

9

(9)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Kelpie Grey

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

0-14 since winning four of his five starts between October 2023 and May 2024, but is 2-5 around here and very well treated on form as recently as last summer; off five months, but is proven fresh.

16/1

16/1

Form: 9-1490 D

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in France, his wins coming on soft ground in spring 2024 and Polytrack in February; didn't get home over 1m2f when last seen two months ago and the market will guide having been picked up for 18,000euros (yard also runs Duke's Command).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(1)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:55 York

Zryan

8st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: David O’Meara

Two AW wins in the winter (9.4f/1m2f); it's possible he's gone off the boil but when beaten 8l in ninth of 13 at Newmarket a fortnight ago he was denied a clear passage before keeping on nicely; not ruled out each-way back up in trip.

25/1

9th

5

(11)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Newmarket

Zryan

9st 9lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Won twice on the AW over the winter but he seems to have gone off the boil, well beaten at Newcastle on Good Friday; not so effective yet on turf; others make more appeal.

16/1

11th

13

(7)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Zryan

8st 8lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: David O’Meara

Won at Wolverhampton (9.4f) in December and over this C&D in January; below best at Wolverhampton (8.6f) latest and he's running in a higher grade than he's used to, but he has an each-way shout on the pick of his winter form.

16/1

Form: 111161 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Free-going front-runner who's won five of her last six, the fitting of a hood and cheekpieces having helped, and climbed 32lb up the weights; this is a stronger, more competitive handicap upped another 6lb but she may well be up to it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(5)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

19:20 Redcar

Two B Tanned

8st 13lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Front-runner who won five times last April-July (good/good to firm) and took it up another notch with easy all-the-way win in 13-runner Musselburgh handicap (1m, good) under Tom Kiely-Marshall on reappearance 11 days ago; that was an apprentice race so she escapes a penalty and is 9lb well in compared to her future mark.

3/1

1st

1

(7)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Two B Tanned

10st 0lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Front-runner who won five times last April-July (good/good to firm), including over C&D; down the field at Nottingham last October when last seen but this mark isn't necessarily beyond her in view of her good third at Haydock (1m, good) in September; could make a bold bid if fully tuned up.

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: /71280 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Win and an unlucky second in the hood in June and no surprise to see headgear back on tonight following two ordinary efforts without it (pulled hard latest); ought to fare much better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

14

(10)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:55 York

Dukes Command

8st 8lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Two 1m wins on turf last season and added another on AW at Lingfield (1m2f) in December; however, he needs to produce a bigger performance than he's managed across his four outings this year.

40/1

5th

2

(5)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Dukes Command

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: David O’Meara

Won at Lingfield (AW) in December on first crack at 1m2f and raced wide when sixth of 14 at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) last month; this two-time turf winner remains unexposed at today's trip and is not ruled out.

7/1

6th

8

(12)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Dukes Command

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Won at Lingfield (Polytrack) in December on first crack at 1m2f; another big run when third of five in Listed race there (1m2f) next time; bounced back from lesser run when staying on for seventh of 12 at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) recently and he could be in the mix now back up in trip.

15/2

Form: -70311 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Made it four wins from five runs here when going in over the extended 7f 12 days ago (Kelpie Grey third); a 3lb rise looks fair and he has every chance of completing the hat-trick, with the step back up in trip in his favour if anything.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(6)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 2

16:30 Redcar

Boy Douglas

9st 1lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

In prime form in July, winning twice (7f/1m) at Ayr, but the wheels seem to have come off since and he beat only one home on the same course last time; others preferred.

16/1

10th

2

(13)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

16:40 Ayr

Boy Douglas

9st 12lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Back in prime form in July, winning twice here (1m/7f), but two slightly disappointing efforts have followed and he probably needs to rebound with a career-best performance; effective on all ground.

9/1

7th

4

(5)

6th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Thirsk

Boy Douglas

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Effective on fast and heavy ground; got back in the groove when winning twice at Ayr (1m/7f) in July but he was disappointing in hat-trick bid there last month; bit to prove again after that and he needs to bounce back near best.

9/1

Form: 622125 D BF

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Chelmsford win in April came over 1m2f and he's run over a middle-distance a couple of times since; the headgear comes off for his new yard, having been picked up from the Crisfords for 7,500gns, and he'll need a career best after ten weeks off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 197y

Class 6

16:50 Doncaster

Cavalry Call

10st 0lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Patrick Morris

Won at Chelmsford (1m2f, AW) last spring but he's struggled in his last eight starts including over hurdles in last two runs; now 10lb lower than for his last success but he needs a big turnaround for new yard (has changed hands and left Mike Smith); hood removed and cheekpieces return.

16/1

9th

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:40 Kelso

Cavalry Call

11st 3lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Two Flat wins but form went the wrong way in that code from last August onwards and he was pulled up at 150-1 on hurdle debut four weeks ago.

100/1

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Cavalry Call

11st 6lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Dual Flat winner; fairly useful at his best (1m-1m3f) but his form for Mike Smith since last summer has been disappointing, and the soft ground is a big worry on this hurdle debut; cheekpieces removed.

40/1

Non-runners

On The River, Redarna

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £15.69
Tricast £48.06
Trifecta £55.50

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Boy Douglas

Daily Mail:

Two B Tanned

SPOTLIGHT:

Epidavros

The Times:

Duke's Command

RP RATINGS:

Empirestateofmind

The Guardian:

Epidavros

The Star:

Two B Tanned

Daily Record:

Two B Tanned

POSTDATA:

Boy Douglas

Telegraph:

Boy Douglas

D Express:

Boy Douglas

Daily Mirror:

Boy Douglas

The Sun:

Boy Douglas