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: 14:30Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 34.02s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
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.
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£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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Just poor form under Rules so far and he looks up against it once more from way out of the handicap proper.
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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)
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.
- Wal Buck's9/1
Prize Money
1st: £5,281.002nd: £2,430.003rd: £1,215.004th: £608.005th: £303.00
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