November 01 / 13.58 Ayr

13.58

Soft

United Council Of Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 3m 0f 70y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
United Council Of Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.70

Form: /62U5-

Last run: 245 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for his age; beaten a head by Ginger Mail over 2m4f here (soft) in January and he was a good fifth at Kelso on his final start last term; unexposed over 3m+ and gets weight all round; commands major respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Nab Wood

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Has a record of 2-4 this term but gained the second success in one of the weaker Pertemps qualifiers and faces a stiffer task off 6lb higher in this field; possibly unsuited by Windsor most recently.

16/1

10th

5

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Windsor

Nab Wood

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Largely progressive northern raider; won going away in Pertemps qualifier at Carlisle (3m1f, soft) most recently, taking record this term to 2-3 and overall strike-rate to 4-12; ventures south with respectable claims.

7/1

1st

7

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Nab Wood

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced for his age; beaten a head by Ginger Mail over 2m4f here (soft) in January and he was a good fifth at Kelso on his final start last term; unexposed over 3m+ and gets weight all round; commands major respect.

5/1

Form: 15P5-5 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Promising last winter with soft-ground chase wins at Kelso and here, but the wheels have come off since and he was tailed off in blinkers at Perth (good ground) on reappearance; perhaps a return to hurdling and the application of cheekpieces will do the trick but others have less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Whistle Stop Tour

11st 9lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Well beaten/pulled up over fences on his last two starts but has each-way claims on the pick of his form over hurdles this season and Gregor Walkingshaw gets a tune out of him.

16/1

8

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Whistle Stop Tour

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Wore cheekpieces on last four starts, to be placed twice over hurdles but not faring so well in two chases, including behind Val Dancer at Lingfield (upped markedly to 3m5f) last time; given wind surgery since and now has tongue tied first time; he's now 9lb below last winter's peak mark (even from out of the handicap) so has his chance if back on song.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 12412- D

Last run: 203 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Improved for the step up to 3m when winning Listed mares' hurdle at Kelso (good to soft) in March, and she performed even better when second of nine in handicap over C&D (good to soft) the following month; may still have untapped potential; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Lavida Adiva

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ruth Jefferson

Course winner who keeps on improving and was a fine second of 24 in the Pertemps Final (Handicap) at Cheltenham (3m, good) last month; receives 7lb mares' allowance but today's assignment requires a clear career best.

50/1

2nd

11

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Lavida Adiva

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Never better than on her last three starts, winning a Listed mares' hurdle at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) on first occasion; minor honours in Grade 2 events since (hooded last time, not today); reliable and basically progressive but she needs to resume improvement in this hot handicap.

16/1

3rd

6

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Haydock

Lavida Adiva

10st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

7yo who has shown improved form this season and won a Listed mares' hurdle at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December; similar form when held in fourth in mares' Grade 2 there (3m, soft) three weeks ago and it seems likely she'll prove vulnerable today; wears a first-time hood.

25/1

Form: 21P17/ C

Last run: 567 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
4-10 under rules, posting a personal best when slamming four rivals in novice hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March 2024; in much deeper when down the field in Grade 1 novice at Aintree the following month, and has not been seen since; retains potential and will probably stay 3m, so he's quite an interesting candidate despite a lengthy absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Esprit Du Potier

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

He's run with credit this season on two of his three starts since returning from a long absence, returning to form when third of seven at Kelso (2m6f, good to soft) in December; his novice hurdle wins came on heavy ground and he could have more to offer now back up in trip; on the shortlist.

9/1

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Esprit Du Potier

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

4-10 under rules, posting a personal best when slamming four rivals in novice hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March 2024; in much deeper when down the field in Grade 1 novice at Aintree the following month, and has not been seen since; retains potential and will probably stay 3m, so he's quite an interesting candidate despite a lengthy absence.

9/2

Form: 1P/1P- C

Last run: 322 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Likeable veteran whose ten wins include six at Kelso and three here; made a successful reappearance in 3m2f chase at Kelso (from Famous Bridge) last autumn; doesn't run often over hurdles these days but he has a lower mark and cannot be ruled out completely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

12yo who lacked fluency when back over fences and was soundly beaten at Haydock in December; however, prior to that he made a fairly encouraging return from an absence over hurdles at Ayr and he's a six-time winner at Kelso; could have a part to play now back here.

13/2

5th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Likeable veteran whose ten wins include six at Kelso and three here; made a successful reappearance in 3m2f chase at Kelso (from Famous Bridge) last autumn; doesn't run often over hurdles these days but he has a lower mark and cannot be ruled out completely.

15/2

5th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Elvis Mail

12st 0lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Likeable veteran whose ten wins include six at Kelso and three here; made a successful reappearance in 3m2f chase at Kelso (from Famous Bridge) last autumn; doesn't run often over hurdles these days but he has a lower mark and cannot be ruled out completely.

15/2

Form: 451PP- C

Last run: 245 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Elvis Mail's half-brother; has a near-perfect record at this meeting, having won the 2m handicap hurdle in 2022 and gone down narrowly in 2023; gave further evidence of his liking for the course when edging out Nab Wood over 2m4f (soft) in January; two subsequent runs were poor but he goes well fresh and should make his presence felt if seeing out the longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Exposed 10yo whose powers would appear to be on the wane judged on this season's performances; opposable.

33/1

11th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ginger Mail

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

10yo whose mark continues to fall and he took a step back in the right direction when third of seven at Ayr a fortnight ago; it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest run but he was beaten just over 7l and certainly needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Boasts two wins around here, one over this distance, but has been below his best this term and was pulled up at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month in race won by Triple Crown Ted; hard to fancy.

16/1

Form: 23D16P- C

Last run: 203 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Useful over fences, first past the post in the Grand National Trial at Haydock (disqualified due to banned substance) in February and far from disgraced in the Ultima at Cheltenham the following month; having his first hurdles outing since April 2022 here, so carries risks, but he could be dangerous off his lower mark if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Famous Bridge

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

The way he asserted in the Grand National Trial at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) last February made this race look an appealing proposition, but he faded badly when it was put to the test and later lost the Haydock race due to a banned substance; this season has been very disappointing but at least he's 9lb lower than 12 months ago and his yard has been in great form.

25/1

7th

14

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Famous Bridge

10st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Very useful handicapper over regulation fences on his day and a very respectable sixth in last year's Ultima (3m1f, good to soft) at this meeting; won't fail through lack of stamina but has been out of form this season and makes cross-country debut from 11lb out of the handicap.

50/1

7th

2

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Famous Bridge

11st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Useful over fences, first past the post in the Grand National Trial at Haydock (disqualified due to banned substance) in February and far from disgraced in the Ultima at Cheltenham the following month; having his first hurdles outing since April 2022 here, so carries risks, but he could be dangerous off his lower mark if fully tuned up.

11/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.70
Straight Forecast £9.30
Trifecta £26.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Lavida Adiva

SPOTLIGHT:

Nab Wood

POSTDATA:

Whistle Stop Tour

Daily Mail:

Famous Bridge

THE NORTH:

Elvis Mail

Daily Mirror:

Lavida Adiva

The Sun:

Lavida Adiva

Daily Record:

Lavida Adiva

RP RATINGS:

Nab Wood

Telegraph:

Nab Wood

The Times:

Whistle Stop Tour

The Guardian:

Whistle Stop Tour

D Express:

Famous Bridge

The Star:

Elvis Mail