May 13 / 15.43 Perth

15.43

Good

Murrayshall Cairns Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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Murrayshall Cairns Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 25221- C

Last run: 230 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Runner-up four times over hurdles prior to getting off the mark in a tight finish here (3m, good; 13-8 favourite, added tongue-tie) last September; off since and set to make chasing debut but there's no reason why he shouldn't take to fences; merits respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

The Flying Poet

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Profited from a final-fence mistake from Defying Gravity to make winning C&D chase debut (good to soft; 7-4 favourite, from 6lb lower) in May; didn't jump with fluency when runner-up at Worcester (beaten over 8l) next time; back from wind surgery, with headgear also tweaked.

11/4

2nd

2

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:20 Worcester

The Flying Poet

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Broke his duck over hurdles after a few near misses and made a winning start to fences at Perth (3m) on his return from a break last month, albeit narrowly with the second making a costly error at the last; lacked fluency there but kept on well and, although a 6lb higher mark asks a question, another bold bid can be expected.

11/4

1st

2

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

The Flying Poet

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Runner-up four times over hurdles prior to getting off the mark in a tight finish here (3m, good; 13-8 favourite, added tongue-tie) last September; off since and set to make chasing debut but there's no reason why he shouldn't take to fences; merits respect.

11/4

16/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 00053-

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Didn't offer much on his first three starts for this trainer, but there has been a slight uptick since wind surgery; third, beaten 22l, over hurdles here (2m, good) latest; hood added for rules chasing debut (0-3 points); task is a tough one from 3lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Defying Gravity

10st 3lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Andrew Hamilton

0-8; scuppered his chance by making a final-fence mistake over C&D (The Flying Poet took full advantage) in May; unseated rider early over fences at Kelso next time and far from fluent back over hurdles at Cartmel latest; risks attached.

10/1

8th

11

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

19:38 Cartmel

Defying Gravity

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Hamilton

Lightly raced 6yo; in this new headgear combination when a late mistake (and some wandering) cost him a 3m chase at Perth and again he showed some quirks when ducking right and unseating at the first fence at Kelso on Sunday; capable of having a say on this return to hurdling but comes with an element of risk.

13/2

5

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:47 Kelso

Defying Gravity

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Hamilton

Lightly raced 6yo who advanced his form on his chasing debut (in a first-time hood) when a short-head second of eight in 3m handicap at Perth 11 days ago, looking probable winner until blundered last; up 6lb but merits serious consideration in retained headgear.

9/4

OUR TIP

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 11442- D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Completed a double with win at Kelso (3m, good to soft; 11-4) last November; wasn't fluent - has been a theme - but bounced back to form in reapplied cheekpieces when chasing home Inis Oirr over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 2lb higher with James Bowen taking over in the saddle; likely candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:40 Market Rasen

Sir Carnegie

11st 7lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

6yo who made it 4-10 over fences when completing a double with his late thrust at Hexham (3m, good) last month; up 3lb but he's been as good as ever in his last two starts and he's strong stayer as this trip; key player.

5/2

1st

5

6th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

18:10 Hexham

Sir Carnegie

11st 4lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Dug deep to resume winning ways at Perth (2m4f, good to soft; 15-8 favourite) over three weeks ago; that was his second run there in the space of 24 hours (third over 3m previous day); 4lb higher with blinkers applied, but Shane Fenelon's 5lb claim lessens that burden; key player.

9/4

Form: UPP31- D

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Ex Irish; took a while to warm to the task for this trainer but he's getting the hang of things now and there was plenty to like about the manner in which he knuckled down to see off Cahier's Den at Newcastle (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago; still lowly weighted despite a token rise; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:55 Cartmel

Aill Dubh

10st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Micky Hammond

Newcastle winner in March (2m7f, good to soft) who was a fair fourth of eight at Perth last time (3m, good to soft); a possible.

6/1

4th

7

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Aill Dubh

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Micky Hammond

Ex Irish; took a while to warm to the task for this trainer but he's getting the hang of things now and there was plenty to like about the manner in which he knuckled down to see off Cahier's Den at Newcastle (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago; still lowly weighted despite a token rise; player.

4/1

Form: 94P42-

Last run: 31 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
27-race maiden; last two efforts were respectable, including when runner-up at Down Royal (3m2f, good; beaten 8l) over a month ago; others make more appeal for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

9th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

19:30 Sligo

Attaboyarchie

11st 13lb

J: Miss E J Sweeney

T: Karl Thornton

Looked set to win over fences last time at Limerick when the saddle slipped on the run-in, which would have been his first score; has a chance if as good over hurdles today.

6/1

11

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 150y

20:18 Limerick

Attaboyarchie

10st 9lb

J: Miss E J Sweeney

T: Karl Thornton

0-28 under rules and 0-8 in chases but has run well in defeat on occasion in this sphere; decent fourth at Leopardstown (21.5f, yielding) in March; 8l second at Down Royal (3m2f, good) in April; modest fifth at Perth latest; needs to find more to get his head in front.

12/1

5th

1

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Attaboyarchie

12st 0lb

J: Miss E J Sweeney

T: Karl Thornton

27-race maiden; last two efforts were respectable, including when runner-up at Down Royal (3m2f, good; beaten 8l) over a month ago; others make more appeal for win purposes.

13/2

Form: 5UP03- D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
1-22; has dropped markedly in the weights over the past six months (form figures P5UP03); trainer seems to have his string in better form now, and she did rally from a tough position when modest third at Kelso (3m; good, 22-1) latest; no forlorn hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

17:40 Hexham

Similar Story

10st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Stuart Coltherd

No win since October 2024; now rated 12lb lower, but her form figures this year (5UP036) offer little encouragement, with even her Kelso third (3m, good; 22-1) a laboured one; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

20/1

6th

4

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Similar Story

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

1-22; has dropped markedly in the weights over the past six months (form figures P5UP03); trainer seems to have his string in better form now, and she did rally from a tough position when modest third at Kelso (3m; good, 22-1) latest; no forlorn hope.

9/1

3rd

8

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:46 Kelso

Similar Story

10st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Stuart Coltherd

C&D winner who finished third on her final two outings last season and is well treated on that form; however, she's struggled to get competitive on her seven starts this term and has plenty to prove.

14/1

Form: 33156- CD BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
0-20 hurdles but made winning chasing debut over C&D (soft; 7-2, from 2lb lower) last October; well beaten on both subsequent starts, dropping out tamely once headed, finishing well behind Sir Carnegie over C&D three weeks ago; needs to rediscover a spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Burgundy Man

10st 6lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Kept on to account for Thehairyfella over C&D (soft) last October; fortunes have dipped markedly since and he weakened quickly when beaten 45l over C&D (hurdle) latest; wind surgery and an added tongue-tie could prompt a revival from what is a workable mark; consult the market.

12/1

9th

7

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:37 Perth

Burgundy Man

11st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: R Mike Smith

0-20 over hurdles but won here (3m, soft) on chase debut last October; three major backward steps this spring prompt caution on this return to hurdling, with cheekpieces (tried often as hurdler last year) reinstated.

20/1

5

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Burgundy Man

11st 3lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: R Mike Smith

0-20 hurdles but made winning chasing debut over C&D (soft; 7-2, from 2lb lower) last October; well beaten on both subsequent starts, dropping out tamely once headed, finishing well behind Sir Carnegie over C&D three weeks ago; needs to rediscover a spark.

10/1

Form: 2333U- BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Yet to win (0-12) but consistent enough since introduced to fences (32333U); this easing mark is helpful from a handicapping perspective but he needs to brush up his jumping - last two efforts in cheekpieces unconvincing - to threaten the principals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Jirko

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Yet to win (0-12) but consistent enough since introduced to fences (32333U); this easing mark is helpful from a handicapping perspective but he needs to brush up his jumping - last two efforts in cheekpieces unconvincing - to threaten the principals.

6/1

11

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Jirko

10st 4lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

11-race maiden; placed on all five starts over fences this term, although was disappointing when last of three with cheekpieces tried at Ayr last time (2m4f, soft; didn't jump well); headgear retained; each-way chance.

11/1

3rd

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:20 Ayr

Jirko

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-10 under all codes but made the frame in four consecutive chases this season, the last three over 3m here (soft/heavy); interesting to see whether combination of drop back in trip and first-time cheekpieces pays dividends.

15/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.60
Straight Forecast £16.86
Tricast £45.55
Trifecta £94.80

Selections

The Times:

The Flying Poet

Telegraph:

Sir Carnegie

SPOTLIGHT:

Aill Dubh

RP RATINGS:

Similar Story

Daily Mail:

Sir Carnegie

Daily Record:

Sir Carnegie

The Guardian:

The Flying Poet

D Express:

The Flying Poet

The Sun:

The Flying Poet

The Star:

The Flying Poet

POSTDATA:

Aill Dubh

Daily Mirror:

Aill Dubh