13:10 Ayr

Saturday 18 April 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:48

Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 18.52s

Matata⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Slevin| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 158| D

20/1

Bounced back to best under a more patient ride when winning a premier handicap at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Has failed by a long way to back that up in 3 subsequent starts, shaping as though amiss in the Topham just 8 days ago. Back in trip.

Form: 33155P

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Calico^p,t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 151| D

9/1

Brilliantly primed to win 2 £100k handicaps at Cheltenham and Ascot during the autumn. Shaped as if needing the run back from 11 weeks off in Game Spirit at Newbury but last month's mid-field effort in the Grand Annual suggests the assessor may just have him now.

Form: 32-1140

Traprain Law^t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 134| CD

2/1

Good first season over fences in 2023/24, winning 2 of 5 starts. Couldn't add to tally last term but has returned in good order, getting back to winning ways at Wetherby in December (2m). Another sound effort up in trip at Musselburgh a month later and kept fresh for latest attempt in this race.

Form: P-24213

Sans Bruit^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| BF| D

5/1

Ideally suited by front-running tactics and landed Red Rum Handicap Chase for second successive season 12 months ago. Down in the weights and shaped as though in good order when third in that renewal 9 days ago, brushed aside on long run to the last. Major claims from this mark.

Form: 665443

Le Nez Creux^t1¹⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 132| D

5/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles and similar form over fences, winning 4-y-o event at Compiegne in September and minor event at Auteuil a month later. Left Francois Nicolle for €320,000 later in November and well worth a market check having joined leading yard for big sum.

Form: 3F-1315

Palacio^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 132| D

7/1

Free-going sort who got his chase career back on track in no uncertain terms when dominating a small-field contest at Newbury 4 weeks ago. Clearly seen to good effect on that occasion and 6 lb rise asks for more but he's dangerous if getting into that rhythm again.

Form: 5-1P3U1

Moudan¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 130| D

4/1

Big career best when doubling chase total at Navan last month. Backed that up when second at Fairyhouse and likely to give it another good go, albeit he's out of the weights in a better race.

Form: 129512

Non-Runners

Classic Maestro⁴²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: J Candlish J: Luke Scott

Aeros Luck⁴⁹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: A M Thomson J: Mr Lucas Murphy

Forecasts

Traprain Law (2/1), Moudan (4/1), Le Nez Creux (5/1), Sans Bruit (5/1), Palacio (7/1), Calico (9/1), Matata (20/1), Classic Maestro (25/1), Aeros Luck (25/1)

Despite failing to complete a Red Rum Handicap hat-trick last week, SAINS BRUIT went with plenty of verve for a long way and with these conditions right up his street, he looks weighted to strike. Palacio's consistency isn't his strong suit but he's a major player if repeating his Newbury form, while French-recruit Le Nez Creux is the unknown quantity.