14:00 Ayr

Friday 2 January 2026

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Sunday Lunch At Western House Hotel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 10.52s

Forest Blaze^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 100| D

6/1

Twice a winner at Hexham last season. Reacted well to cheekpieces when second of 8 to Beat The Retreat in 19.5f course handicap last month. Should go well if the headgear continues to have a positive effect.

Form: 3714-52

Eire Street³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 100| CD

28/1

C&D winner on heavy in February 2024 but has largely struggled in a light career since, including pulling up on both starts this season. Can only watch at present.

Form: 12/06-PP

Don Occhetti⁴⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 100

66/1

Opened account for Dan Skelton in Worcester handicap chase when last seen in August 2024. However, he didn't show much over hurdles for that yard and is opposable returned to this sphere for new connections following 16 months off.

Form: 970/231-

Shadow Chaser¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 99

9/2

Modest form at best over hurdles for Stuart Coltherd last season but gambled on and shaped a lot better for new yard when second of 14 in 19.5f course handicap on reappearance in November. A lesser run at Carlisle since needs forgiving, though.

Form: 76PP-27

Raceview Road²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 97

28/1

Ended last season out of sorts over fences and well-held sixth on last month's Newcastle hurdle reappearance.

Form: 2P5PP-6

Parish Quiz^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 96

12/1

Winning pointer who also showed promise in a pair of bumpers. Beaten 20 lengths or more on all 3 qualifying runs over hurdles but could make more of an impact now handicapping in first-time headgear. One to note in the betting.

Form: 1/45-047

Big Storm Brewing²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 96

4/1

Returned from 8 months off with an improved second of 9 in 19.5f Doncaster handicap 3 weeks ago. Leading contender if in similar form.

Form: 66865-2

Zumbi^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 95

80/1

Lightly-raced hurdle winner but pulled up in Hexham chase on recent return from 19 months off and it remains to be seen whether a return to the smaller obstacles and refitting of cheekpieces makes any difference.

Form: 3P43/8-P

Burning It Up⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P W Wadge| T: N W Alexander| OR: 93| BF

16/1

Modest form over hurdles. Second on Perth handicap debut last spring but hasn't reproduced that in 3 outings this season, pulling up when sent off a well-backed 2/1 at Kelso last time.

Form: 432-54P

So Many Roads^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard| T: D W Whillans| OR: 92| CD

4/1

Winless since a handicap debut success in this race 3 years ago but latest 19.5f course third shows he arrives in form. Enters calculations.

Form: 7/34U-73

The Coffey Boy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: I A Duncan| OR: 92

17/2

Irish point winner. Has hinted at promise in 2m novice hurdles here in recent months and rates a likely improver now handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 5/1-867

Carrhill^v1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: C Grant| OR: 91

28/1

Maiden pointer. Modest form over hurdles in recent months, finishing only fifth of 8 on 3m Newcastle handicap debut 22 days ago. The cheekpieces worn on that occasion are now replaced by a first-time visor.

Form: 25-7045

En Avant^p1,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: K Brogan| T: H McMahon| OR: 90

125/1

Fair hurdler winner for Olly Murphy but has shown little in 3 runs for new connections. Has first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue tie.

Form: 35P56P

Velvet Vulcan^h,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 79

25/1

Modest 2m Flat winner but yet to better poor form over hurdles, including in a couple of course handicaps for new yard this winter.

Form: 4-464

Lewa House^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Bissett| OR: 77| D

22/1

On a losing run but was runner-up over C&D last February. Not disgraced in a couple of 3m course chases this winter and has a lower mark to work with over hurdles.

Form: 6282-56

Boolamore Classic^v³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 77| C

9/1

Got off the mark over hurdles in 21f course handicap (heavy) last January. Backed that up when third at Wetherby later that month but a handful of lesser runs have followed. Bounce back needed.

Form: 135-PP6

Breadalbane Lass^t,p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 76

33/1

Second at Carlisle (17f) last February but no impact in 2 runs this season.

Form: 5725-06

Bray Dale³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: C Bissett| OR: 74

33/1

Third on 2m course handicap debut last March but hasn't reproduced that form in a pair of 19.5f handicaps here this winter.

Form: P753-05

Euchan Falls^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne| T: R M Smith| OR: 70| CD

50/1

Dual hurdles winner. Runner-up in chases here and at Cartmel last spring but pulled up on last month's return from a break.

Form: 08-27PP

Forecasts

So Many Roads (4/1), Big Storm Brewing (4/1), Shadow Chaser (9/2), Forest Blaze (6/1), The Coffey Boy (17/2), Boolamore Classic (9/1), Parish Quiz (12/1), Burning It Up (16/1), Lewa House (22/1), Velvet Vulcan (25/1), Raceview Road (28/1), Eire Street (28/1), Carrhill (28/1), Breadalbane Lass (33/1), Bray Dale (33/1), Euchan Falls (50/1), Don Occhetti (66/1), Zumbi (80/1), En Avant (125/1)

BIG STORM BREWING pulled well clear of the remainder when second on his Doncaster reappearance so a 3 lb rise could prove fair. The Coffey Boy appeals as a likely improver now handicapping over further and is second choice ahead of So Many Roads, who won this in 2023, and Forest Blaze.