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

5th

5

(2)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

19:42 Pontefract

Empirestateofmind

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: John & Sean Quinn

A dual winner (around 1m) in 2025 but he's yet to fire this season, only ninth of 11 in 1m Redcar handicap four weeks ago; others appeal more.

20/1

9th

11

(3)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Empirestateofmind

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has dropped 8lb lower than when last winning a handicap for good reason; his last two starts didn't suggest a return to winning ways was imminent.

14/1

9th

6

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Wetherby

Empirestateofmind

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Prolific winner at 1m-1m1f on good or slower; inconsistent this season but has slipped to a workable mark and, if in the same form as at Ripon on penultimate start, he could have a say.

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

5th

2

(4)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

16:42 Hamilton

Epidavros

9st 10lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Katie Scott

Beaten 17 times since she last won, here (1m1f, good to soft) in September 2024; however, she's run a lot of good races in the meantime and was third of nine at Carlisle (1m, soft) recently; might not be far away.

5/1

3rd

1

(9)

8th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 173y

Class 5

16:18 Carlisle

Epidavros

10st 2lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Katie Scott

Losing run is mounting up and her three fourth placings this season reflect stagnation, rather than building towards a win; that said, she has won over C&D (soft) and returns here off a workable mark.

4/1

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

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

13th

18

(18)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Kelpie Grey

8st 11lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Gained all four wins over 7f+ and is yet to hit top gear this season but attracted stewards' attention when keeping on for sixth under tender handling over C&D (soft) last month and remains well handicapped; one to keep a close eye on in the betting.

14/1

6th

12

(11)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:23 Ayr

Kelpie Grey

9st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Four-time winner, all over 7f-1m, but none since May 2024; has run well over C&D in the past and rain won't bother him; beaten favourite in Class 5 events on his last two starts and this is tougher.

7/1

8th

2

(3)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 6y

Class 5

14:51 Hamilton

Kelpie Grey

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

His losing sequence goes back 16 races to May 2024 and his form has gone the wrong way; however, he's dropped to a dangerous mark and ran respectably when fifth of nine over 7f at Ayr a fortnight ago (11-8 favourite), when shaping as though the return to 6f may help; not ruled out.

9/2

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

7th

3

(9)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:00 Musselburgh

Two B Tanned

9st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Front-runs; major improvement for this yard in 2025, winning five times, including over C&D; improved on those efforts when coming clear in fine style over 1m here (good) on reappearance but she ran poorly when going unpenalised at Redcar next time and now has an 8lb higher mark on her plate; probably wouldn't want much rain.

7/1

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

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

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