16:43 Ayr

Friday 17 April 2026

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4317:15

Get Home Safe With Thistle Cabs Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 6m 38.96s

Hidden History^p1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

11/1

Dual winner in this sphere and opened chase account in 25f Aintree handicap chase on return in November. However, he's struggled since, including back hurdling following a breathing operation at Uttoxeter last month, and hopes now pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking a return to form.

Form: 12-1679

Woodland Park⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| BF

7/2

Bumper winner who landed the odds on second run over hurdles in a Leicester maiden in November. Beaten favourite all 4 starts since switched to handicaps but, at the same time, he has performed with credit on each occasion and the form of his latest Wetherby second when upped to 3m is solid.

Form: 21-3322

Draco Malfoy⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 123| D

12/1

Successful at Huntingdon/Hereford either side of being outstayed in a 19.5f Doncaster novice in December. No surprise that he struggled on handicap debut in a Sandown Grade 3 last time but, though now in calmer waters, his stamina (untried beyond 21.5f under Rules) has to be taken on trust.

Form: 35-1218

Kent De Thaix²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: S England| OR: 123| D

11/1

Progressed with each start in novice/maiden hurdles, off the mark at third attempt at Carlisle in December. Resumed winning ways on second run in a handicap/debut for this yard at Wetherby (3m, good) 3 weeks ago but more on his plate up 4 lb in this tougher race.

Form: 051P51

Billy Boi Blue^t,p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 122| CD

33/1

Notched third victory in this sphere when gamely seeing off 12 rivals in this race last year. On the same mark this time round but, on the downside, he needs to bounce back in a major way following a poor display back from a break at Doncaster last month.

Form: P51-73P

Eyed^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: H Morrison| OR: 122| D

12/1

Improved chaser last term, winning 3 times, and positive start to present campaign when runner-up in this sphere at Kempton (21f, good to soft). Has found things tougher back over fences since and while the return to hurdles may help, his current mark leaves little margin for error.

Form: 24-275P

Just Ennemi^t1⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 122WS

25/1

Useful hurdler in France, winning twice at Auteuil. Changed hands for €320,000 after but hasn't shown much in 2 starts for present connections, including on handicap bow at Kempton in January, and now moves up in trip with a first-time tongue strap enlisted. Has undergone a breathing operation.

Form: 16/1-30

Alentejo^b,t⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118

15/2

Failed to reproduce anything akin to peak French hurdles form when pulled up on chase/stable debut at Ffos Las in January. However, the blinkers he sported for the first time there were retained when runner-up back over hurdles at Newbury (3m, heavy) since and he's a big player off the same mark.

Form: 2/8P0-P2

Rocheval⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 116| C

11/1

Yet to fulfil promise he showed at the start of his career (winner of a bumper and first 2 starts over hurdles) but has at least edged down the weights and conclusively proved that he stays this trip when fourth in the C&D handicap won by Shoeshine Boy last time. Place possibilities.

Form: F6-P644

I Am Max^t1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: A M Thomson| OR: 116| C

12/1

Novice hurdle winner here back in February 2024 and opened chase account on return at Hexham during the autumn. Best effort since when runner-up in this sphere at Doncaster on penultimate start but others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 045527

Irish Champ^t,h³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 115| D

14/1

Point winner who showed promise in each of his first 3 starts in this sphere. However, he failed to improve for the switch to handicaps when seventh of 19 at Down Royal and will likely come up short once again.

Form: 14327

Hawthorn Street³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114| BF| D

15/2

Fetched £155,000 after winning a maiden point and made it third time lucky over hurdles at Catterick (25f, soft) in February. Lack of experience appeared to catch him out against battle-hardened rivals when fourth of 10 on subsequent handicap bow at Wetherby, though, and this isn't any easier.

Form: P1/4-414

Patriotik^p⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 111| D

33/1

Successful at Doncaster last March before finishing a fine third of 17 in a valuable handicap at Uttoxeter later that month. However, he hasn't hit the high notes so far this season and is likely to come up short once more.

Form: 006065

Society Soldier⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 109| C

6/1

Third sole start between the flags and has taken sizeable steps forward with each of her 3 starts over hurdles, most recently landing a mares novice in good style upped to 20.4f here (soft) last month. Unexposed and further progress likely now faced with an even stiffer test on this handicap debut.

Form: 3/5-31

Shoeshine Boy^t⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D W Whillans| OR: 104| CD

22/1

Back-to-back winner of C&D handicaps in January (4-time C&D winner in total) but put in his place when third of 9 off this mark back here the following month. Likely to find one or two too good once again.

Form: 32F113

Non-Runners

Whistle Stop Tour⁵⁵

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: Gregor Walkingshaw

Don Rafael³⁰

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: S Drinkwater J: Benjamin Macey

Forecasts

Woodland Park (7/2), Society Soldier (6/1), Don Rafael (7/1), Alentejo (15/2), Hawthorn Street (15/2), Kent De Thaix (11/1), Rocheval (11/1), Hidden History (11/1), Eyed (12/1), I Am Max (12/1), Draco Malfoy (12/1), Irish Champ (14/1), Whistle Stop Tour (14/1), Shoeshine Boy (22/1), Just Ennemi (25/1), Billy Boi Blue (33/1), Patriotik (33/1)

Despite the large field this can be whittled down to 3 chief protagonists, namely SOCIETY SOLDIER, Alentejo and Woodland Park, in that order of preference. The cases for the trio in question are all compelling but from a potential standpoint Society Soldier is the clear pick. Indeed, it was a decent mares novice that she won with plenty of authority here last time and she should have plenty more to offer now pitched into a handicap over a trip that promises to be right up her street.