17:01 Ayr

Thursday 17 September 2026

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:01

Tennent's Lager Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 3m 6.36s

(6)

Strassia^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97

28/1

Won a listed race at Saint-Cloud in 2024 but struggled for this stable last year, returning lame at Newmarket in September. Off 11 months (also hooded) looked rusty when ninth of 13 in handicap at Hamilton (1½m, good) 4 weeks ago and this promises to reveal more down in class.

Form: 13/606-9

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(11)

Ashnak¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88

4/1

Useful sort who gained his win in France on heavy. Made a solid start for current yard in the first half of 2026, posting a solid second over C&D in June and much better than distance beaten suggests when eighth at Haydock (1¾m, soft) 12 days ago, finding test too much. Better showing anticipated.

Form: 834278

(4)

Elsass¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: C Johnston| OR: 85

4/1

Successful in pair of 11f handicaps during the spring and back to that sort of form returned to all-weather when finishing good third at Kempton (1½m, 11/2) 12 days ago, clear of rest. Still to prove himself on ground softer than good but he appeals as being on an exploitable mark and worth a look.

Form: 103773

(10)

Minstrel Knight¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: E Bethell| OR: 83

5/1

Best efforts on Flat have come with give underfoot and he got his act together over hurdles when landing back-to-back novices during the winter. Clearly not 100% when tailed off on return at Thirsk (2m) in May but forecast easier ground in his favour back from a break and bounce back possible.

Form: 0/4020-0

(5)

Azahara Palace^t1¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: A Keatley| OR: 82

22/1

Successful in a handicap at Epsom (1½m) last July and a winner over hurdles for this yard at Hexham in the winter. Lightly raced since and feasible to think the drop to 9f was against her when last seen at Hamilton in May. This test more suitable with a tongue strap now added.

Form: 15279-6

(7)

Northwest Passage¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: I Furtado| OR: 80

12/1

Relished testing conditions when off the mark at Salisbury (1¼m) 12 months ago. Bettered that form a couple of times in defeat for present yard. Best not judged too harshly on his latest run over hurdles and any further rain would aid his cause returned to this sphere. Up in trip.

Form: 2-05255

(12)

Spirit Of Acklam¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 79| C| D

5/1

Shaded a close finish in a falsely-run handicap at Hamilton (13f) in July. Similar form when in-the-frame both starts since, finding only a pair of 3-y-os too good at Thirsk (1½m, good to soft) 12 days ago. Each-way claims again back on last winning mark.

Form: 9-57143

(2)

Golden West¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77

7/1

Hasn't won since going 2-2 as a juvenile but did post best effort for present stable when second over shorter at Thirsk last month. Could only manage fifth in Old Borough Cup at Haydock (1¾m) 12 days ago but worth another crack at this sort of trip and this is an easier assignment.

Form: 8/42925

(3)

High Point³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 77

40/1

Won at Yarmouth (11.5f, soft) in June, Has finished last in 3 handicaps since joining his new stable but could take a step forward now returned to a longer trip/softer ground for all a leap of faith is understandably required.

Form: 301000

(8)

Pearl Eye^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75| C

17/2

Scored at Hamilton/here over shorter trips for his new yard this summer. Hasn't gone with the same verve more recently, though, again slow to gather his stride and going about things thoroughly unenthusiastically when sixth at Haydock (1¼m) 2 weeks ago. Back up in trip now.

Form: 361466

(1)

Humble Spark^p⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Lauren Young⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 75

16/1

On a lengthy losing run but went very close in Queen Mothers Cup at York in June. Clearly on an exploitable mark but he's compromised his chance with slow starts on each of his 3 starts since.

Form: 262966

Non-Runners

(9)

Moon Over Miami¹⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: R M Beckett J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ashnak (4/1), Elsass (4/1), Moon Over Miami (4/1), Spirit Of Acklam (5/1), Minstrel Knight (5/1), Golden West (7/1), Pearl Eye (17/2), Northwest Passage (12/1), Humble Spark (16/1), Azahara Palace (22/1), Strassia (28/1), High Point (40/1)

This looks wide open and with that in mind it could pay to take a chance on MINSTREL KNIGHT. He's been absent since shaping as if amiss at Thirsk back in the spring but with easier ground in his favour from what appeals as a handy mark, he may represent a spot of value with his yard enjoying a really productive season. Ashnak shaped better than the distance beaten suggests at Haydock last time and is next best ahead of Elsass.