September 30 / 15.00 Ayr

15.00

Soft

Hogmanay Ball At Western House Hotel Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Hogmanay Ball At Western House Hotel Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 164122 CD BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
In good form having won over C&D in August (good) and finished runner-up on his two subsequent outings, latest at Redcar last month (1m2f, good); ground a concern for he has never run on going softer than good and was withdrawn on account of the going (good to soft) at Doncaster earlier this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Hamilton

Obito

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Always towards the rear on reappearance over C&D (good) three weeks ago but may have needed that run; won twice last summer (1m/1m2f, good; including here) and he's on a competitive mark on last autumn's form (including on soft ground); he can be in the mix if bouncing back.

6/1

8th

1

(4)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

19:50 Hamilton

Obito

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

A dual winner in 2025 (including here) who also finished runner-up three times in the autumn; yard is going well so he must enter calculations on his return.

13/2

6th

4

(2)

4th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 3

13:55 Redcar

Obito

9st 3lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Dual winner who is holding his form well on all sorts of ground and has the same mark as when second at Ayr five weeks ago (1m2f); solid.

4/1

Form: 121474 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Has won twice at Hamilton this season (1m3f/1m4f, good to soft/good) and beaten a neck when fourth of five in a blanket finish there last week (1m4f, soft); not run up to his best two previous tries at 1m2f, but wouldn't rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

9

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Spanish Hustle

8st 11lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

Hamilton specialist who was tailed off there on his reappearance a fortnight ago (pulled hard); hard to fancy on the back of that but it may have got the freshness out of him and he's on his last winning mark; not a forlorn hope on his first visit here.

25/1

10th

11

(6)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Spanish Hustle

8st 7lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

Easily best known at Hamilton where he's 6-20, including two wins last summer; competitive if he returns in last season's peak form but he's needed at least his first run back in previous seasons.

20/1

7

(9)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

11:56 Catterick

Spanish Hustle

9st 6lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Easily best known at Hamilton where he's 6-20, including two wins this summer; fourth in a blanket finish (also involving Mafting) there on penultimate start but well beaten at Ayr on latest and he has more to prove here; 7lb claimer enlisted.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 125887 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Dual winner for Simon and Ed Crisford; stays 1m2f well but has yet to run on soft ground; bought for 7,500gns in July and well beaten in his three starts since.
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

Form: 707274

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Ex-Ralph Beckett; only win was over 1m at York in October 2023 (soft); best run this term when second at Doncaster last month (1m2f, good) but a bit disappointing since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(6)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 5

14:40 Redcar

Whiskey Pete

9st 3lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Inconsistent 5yo; lurks on a dangerous mark but usually runs over middle distances nowadays and was well beaten on last month's seasonal debut.

20/1

13th

7

(9)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

15:53 Thirsk

Whiskey Pete

9st 5lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Useful for Ralph Beckett but nowhere near that level for this yard last year, albeit placed twice over 1m2f at Doncaster off his reduced mark at the end of last summer; off six months; the betting should help guide to expectations.

14/1

Form: 545151 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Suited by plenty of give in the ground and comes here in good form having won two of his last three races, both here, first over 1m2f on good, latest over 1m on soft (won by 4.25l); up 8lb but looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(4)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 20y

Class 4

14:42 Ayr

Cisco Disco

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: R Mike Smith

Hit form with vengeance through the second half of 2025, winning four of his last five (all here, 1m-1m2f); the bulk of those were on soft to heavy, and he has risen a combined total of 23lb in the handicap; merits respect, but is returning from a 223-day absence; rain would help.

13/2

3

(8)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Cisco Disco

9st 13lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: R Mike Smith

Made it three course wins from his last four starts when scoring over C&D (soft) nine days ago; came clear with an in-form runner-up last time and this rejuvenated 7yo may well take a 4lb penalty in his stride.

5/2

5

(7)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Cisco Disco

9st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: R Mike Smith

Suited by plenty of give in the ground and comes here in good form having won two of his last three races, both here, first over 1m2f on good, latest over 1m on soft (won by 4.25l); up 8lb but looks the one to beat.

9/4

Form: 714782

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Tough veteran; winner over 1m1f at Musselburgh in July (good) and close second to prolific winner Jannas Journey (won next time) over 7f at Musselburgh last time (good to soft); could go well but not sure 1m2f on soft are his ideal conditions.
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

Form: 322158 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Second to Cisco Disco (13lb worse off for 3.25l) over C&D last month (good ground); has since won over 1m4.5f at Musselburgh (good); below-par last twice, latest on soft ground (best on good/good to firm).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

17:22 Hamilton

Sophiesticate

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: R Mike Smith

Below par on final two starts last year and same story on recent reappearance over 1m at Ayr; however, she's back up to a more suitable trip today and is 6lb below her last winning mark; not written off.

14/1

7th

6

(6)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:15 Ayr

Sophiesticate

9st 6lb

J: Joe Bradnam

T: R Mike Smith

Campaigned mostly at longer trips (stays 12.5f) and offered little back over 1m at Newcastle in early December.

33/1

7

(2)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Sophiesticate

9st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

C&D winner who was on the scoresheet at Musselburgh (1m4f, good) in August; ran okay when third over C&D (soft) nine days ago but was no match for the first two (including Cisco Disco); needs something extra.

9/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cisco Disco

Telegraph:

Obito

RP RATINGS:

Whiskey Pete

TOPSPEED:

Cavalry Call

POSTDATA:

Detective

D Express:

Obito

The Times:

Whiskey Pete

The Guardian:

Cisco Disco

Daily Mail:

Cisco Disco

Daily Mirror:

Cisco Disco

The Sun:

Cisco Disco

The Star:

Cisco Disco

Daily Record:

Cisco Disco