14:30 Ayr

Friday 2 January 2026

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

Book Wicked Afternoon Tea At WesternHouseHotel Handicap Chase

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 4  |   3m 20y  |   Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |   14 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:30  |   Winning time: 6m 34.02s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
1
Horse silk
Wal Buck's34
Age: 7|  Weight: 12-0| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR:  110
9/1
Got off the mark in Haydock handicap chase last December and not discredited next 2 starts. Stepped up on his reappearance when fourth of 9 over a marathon trip at Newcastle last time and should make his presence felt. Yard also runs Visual Impact.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
2
Horse silk
Visual Impact27
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Power(5)| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR:  108| BF
11/2
£100,000 purchase having finished runner-up in sole Irish points and she showed plenty in a handful of appearances over hurdles. Chase debut third on return here (20.5f, soft) was promising, too, but subsequent fourth at Wetherby hardly represented a step in the right direction.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
3
Horse silk
Dangerous Touch30
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR:  107
4/1
Irish point runner-up who scored over hurdles at Ffos Las in January. Followed that with a decent effort in defeat at Sandown but his efforts in this sphere since returning to action in November have been rather underwhelming.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
4
Horse silk
Wholly Boley32
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D Bourke| OR:  107| CD
10/1
Point winner who made a positive start to chase career when second at Hexham (3m, heavy) in October. Ran poorly tried in cheekpieces next time but back on track with headgear omitted when scoring over C&D last month and a 10 lb rise for that should be manageable.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
5
Horse silk
Bushyparkp33
Age: 12|  Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Williamson(3)| T: P A Kirby| OR:  103| D
18/1
Winless since 2023 and while his latest fourth in a 12-runner Carlisle handicap chase was a decent enough performance, several of the others make more appeal from a win perspective.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
6
Horse silk
Travail D'Orfevrep1,t62
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-4| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR:  100| CD
14/1
Made the made most of a good opportunity in a 4-runner C&D handicap last January. Largely below par since but now 2 lb below that winning mark, so he would have a serious chance should the first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
7
Horse silk
Celestial Fashion53
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley| T: I A Duncan| OR:  95| C
6/1
Likeable type who looked better than ever when making a winning return at Carlisle (2½m, good to soft) in November. Hitherto untried beyond that trip, but her sound jumping is an asset and she'll be a danger to all up 7 lb if her stamina passes the test.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
8
Horse silk
Cowboy Cooper25
Age: 10|  Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR:  87| CD
15/2
Dual 3m chase winner last term, including over this C&D, and bettered low-key reappearance when third of 11 at Musselburgh (23.6f, good to soft) last month. Down another 1 lb and not without each-way hope.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
9
Horse silk
Azof Des Mottest33
Age: 9|  Weight: 10-2| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR:  84| CD
22/1
Capitalised on a much-reduced mark when bagging 12-runner C&D handicap on penultimate start. However, his record is patchy and he was subsequently pulled up at Carlisle.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
10
Horse silk
Eveque28
Age: 12|  Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs J Walton| OR:  84| D
66/1
Bounced back to form when striking on return at Hexham in November but this veteran is rather in-and-out, so it was no great surprise that he wasn't in the same form at Sedgefield next time.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
11
Horse silk
Auchinlek33
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: A M Thomson| OR:  83
6/1
Didn't show much over hurdles but he has taken steps forward with each of his 3 starts since switched to fences, most recently finishing third of 12 in a 3¼m Carlisle handicap. Another step forward will be needed if he's to open his account here, though.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
12
Horse silk
Joie More32
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR:  81
12/1
Has bettered his poor chase debut display the last twice, latterly beaten 18 lengths into third in the 11-runner C&D handicap won by Wholly Boley. However, will need to take a significant step forward if he's to get the job done this time.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
13
Horse silk
Cave Hillp,t28
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle(3)| T: I A Duncan| OR:  80
10/1
Improved under a change of tactics when successful in a 10-runner handicap chase at Hexham in May. Best effort since when third of 7 at Sedgefield (21f, soft) last time and he's in with an each-way shout.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour goldImage of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform
14
Horse silk
Whispering Dancerp56
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR:  69| D
80/1
Just poor form under Rules so far and he looks up against it once more from way out of the handicap proper.
|
Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold
Timeform

Forecasts

Dangerous Touch (4/1), Visual Impact (11/2), Celestial Fashion (6/1), Auchinlek (6/1), Cowboy Cooper (15/2), Wal Buck's (9/1), Cave Hill (10/1), Wholly Boley (10/1), Joie More (12/1), Travail D'Orfevre (14/1), Bushypark (18/1), Azof Des Mottes (22/1), Eveque (66/1), Whispering Dancer (80/1)

Verdict

With his reappearance spin likely to have blown away the cobwebs, TRAVAIL D'ORFEVRE is worth chancing. He is now 2 lb lower than for his small-field C&D success last January and perhaps the addition of cheekpieces will give him a lift. If Celestial Fashion copes with this step up in trip she will be a big threat, while Wal Buck's is third on the list ahead of C&D winners Cowboy Cooper and Wholly Boley.

  1. Travail D'Orfevre14/1
  2. Celestial Fashion6/1
  3. Wal Buck's9/1

Prize Money

1st: £5,281.002nd: £2,430.003rd: £1,215.004th: £608.005th: £303.00

MOST READ RACING

Follow & Track
Image of a horse race faded in a gold gradientYour favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My Stable
Log in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefitsWhite Chevron
Sporting Life Plus Logo

RACING TIPS

Next Off