November 01 / 16.15 Ayr

16.15

Soft

Shaws Bar Pollockshaws Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 3m 0f 70y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Shaws Bar Pollockshaws Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 367-

Last run: 257 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who kept on for modest third on hurdling debut at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in January; did not build on that performance on either start in February but his pedigree offers significant hope this big hike up in trip can unlock improvement on today's seasonal/handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Buzz Iceclear

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won in November on first two handicap starts (soft; including C&D) and solid third at Ascot (2m7f, good to soft) next time; disappointing at Ayr (3m, soft) last time but in the mix if rediscovering his previous promise.

10/1

8th

5

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:13 Ayr

Buzz Iceclear

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won in November on first two handicap starts (soft; including C&D) and another good run when third at Ascot (2m7f, good to soft) last month; remains open to further improvement and he's a solid candidate for last year's winning yard; wears first-time cheekpieces.

7/2

6/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 852649 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his two wins at Perth (2m4f/3m) in summer 2023 and was well beaten at Tipperary last month but he is respected Irish trainer Gordon Elliott's only runner on today's card; dangerous to ignore.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 185y

15:52 Downpatrick

Themanintheboots

11st 6lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Bagged third career hurdles win at Navan in November (2m4f, soft to heavy) off 98; poor in four starts since; needs to bounce back.

12/1

3rd

4

4th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 20y

15:52 Naas

Themanintheboots

11st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Bagged third career hurdles win at Navan in November (2m4f, soft to heavy) off 98; poor in three starts since (one over fences); needs to bounce back to his best and others better treated.

8/1

7th

2

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

15:20 Navan

Themanintheboots

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Won over 2m4f here in November (heavy), his third career win over hurdles; pulled up off 10lb higher back here next time (3m1f, sft-hvy) and then well beaten in a beginners' chase at Punchestown latest; needs to bounce back.

8/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 520-03 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Bettered low-key seasonal debut when keeping on well from the rear for close third at Kelso (2m5f, good) last month; suited by this C&D and will be fine on today's slower ground; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:35 Ayr

Be The Difference

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Three-time winner this season (2m5f-3m; soft) but subsequent defeats would suggest that the handicapper may now be in charge.

7/1

Form: F5P6-F

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
0-5 over hurdles and failed to justify solid market support when falling at third fence on last month's seasonal/chase debut; quickly reverts to hurdling today; interesting to see whether he's strong in the betting again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Helsgetaway

11st 2lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

0-8 over hurdles; sound run from the front when third to a pair of dead-heaters over C&D last time (good); one with a chance.

11/2

3rd

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Helsgetaway

11st 6lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Exposed; fair fourth at Ayr in November (3m, soft) and may have needed the race after a break when well beaten at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good to soft).

16/1

10th

7

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Helsgetaway

11st 6lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Fell on chase debut at Hexham (2m4f; 3-1) in October; failed to stay 3m (ran respectably) back over hurdles at Ayr the following month; off since but 8lb lower than when first introduced to handicapping 14 months ago; stablemate of Snow Dragon.

10/1

Form: 7747-3

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but gave very good account when clear third on last month's seasonal debut at Hexham (2m4f, good); not sure to be suited by the slower ground here but remains unexposed over 3m; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

14:41 Hexham

Didntgotwenty

10st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Martin Todhunter

On the up since fitted with cheekpieces and he readily got off the mark in 2m4f handicap at Musselburgh last month; hiked up 9lb but he seems sure to go well if his stamina holds out over this longer trip.

15/8

OUR TIP

Form: 63448-

Last run: 225 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Steadily regressive 9yo who has not won since October 2022; however, he's been pretty consistent for Jackie Stephen over the last couple of years, seems well suited by 3m on soft ground nowadays and makes his seasonal debut from a tempting mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Guernesey

10st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jackie Stephen

Has won just two of his 41 races over hurdles but nearly made it three when beaten a neck by Adveram (2lb worse off) at Hexham in December (2m7f, heavy); hasn't done as well since and was a long way behind Ballin Bay last time.

20/1

5th

6

19th Feb 2026

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

14:33 Sedgefield

Guernesey

10st 11lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jackie Stephen

Consistent sort; hasn't won since October 2022, but has run creditably on last three starts and has an each-way chance.

9/1

Form: 0060-P

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Unplaced all five hurdle starts; pulled up on last month's seasonal debut at Kelso (2m5f, good; race in which Be The Difference came third) but ran well to a point there and may have needed the outing; upped in trip again here; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:15 Ayr

Red Ned

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sandy Thomson

Unplaced all five hurdle starts; pulled up on last month's seasonal debut at Kelso (2m5f, good; race in which Be The Difference came third) but ran well to a point there and may have needed the outing; upped in trip again here; not ruled out.

16/1

7th

8

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:15 Ayr

Red Ned

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sandy Thomson

Unplaced all five hurdle starts; pulled up on last month's seasonal debut at Kelso (2m5f, good; race in which Be The Difference came third) but ran well to a point there and may have needed the outing; upped in trip again here; not ruled out.

16/1

Form: 0436-8 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Returned from break with disappointing chase run in September and now reverts to hurdling; on a workable mark and ought to be suited by today's trip-and-ground combination but it's a long time since his only win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Half Track

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

He's well handicapped on last season's best efforts but this 10yo hasn't been able to threaten this term and has a poor 1-22 strike-rate.

16/1

Form: /8472-

Last run: 218 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but seemingly aided by first-time tongue-tie when second at Wetherby (3m, good) in March; not seen again since but will be fine on the soft ground here and her summer wind op may enable further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:30 Newcastle

Snowrocco

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Won easily this winter over about 3m on good to soft at Newcastle and Musselburgh; fourth off revised mark at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) was another good effort but tailed off at Musselburgh 11 days ago when most of the hurdles were omitted; needs to resume improvement in first-time cheekpieces.

8/1

12th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Snowrocco

11st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Won at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) in December and followed up over this C&D (good to soft), again easily; having gone up the weights she was fourth at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) last time but that was still a good run in a warm mares' handicap and she's one to consider today.

6/1

4th

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Snowrocco

11st 8lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Has improved following wind surgery this season, winning handicaps at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) and Musselburgh (3m, good to soft); went up 9lb for latest win, so facing stiff task here, particularly as she is down in trip.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £38.70
Straight Forecast £57.72
Tricast £566.79
Trifecta £621.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Be The Difference

The Times:

Didntgotwenty

RP RATINGS:

Half Track

D Express:

Buzz Iceclear

The Guardian:

Helsgetaway

Telegraph:

Snowrocco

POSTDATA:

Themanintheboots

Daily Mirror:

Guernesey

The Sun:

Didntgotwenty

The Star:

Half Track

Daily Mail:

Be The Difference

Daily Record:

Be The Difference