November 29 / 13.10 Ayr

13.10

Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4629.1
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 313-81 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a decent course bumper last November (2m, good to soft); highly tried two runs after that; back to winning ways when beating a well-regarded winning pointer who went off at 1-3 in a Down Royal bumper last time; from a good jumping family and an interesting contender on hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Sophie Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Two-time hurdles winner, rated 126 over fences, 3m his best trip, this too sharp.

10/1

10th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Ran well for a 100-1 shot in this last year (sixth), doing best work late on; that was also the case when only 6l off Its On The Line at Down Royal over Christmas and, like last year, he arrives here after winning a point; cheekpieces offered nothing when tried once before (hurdles); place squeak.

33/1

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

midfield

10/1

66/1

  • Place: £13.70

Form: 57

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two races over hurdles at Kelso (14-1, 200-1) and improvement needed to feature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:25 Newcastle

Kauto Of Gold

11st 4lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

Has improved with every start over hurdles and best effort at Ayr last time; however, he'll almost certainly have to improve again if he's to get off the mark this time.

8/1

2nd

2

29th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:10 Ayr

Kauto Of Gold

11st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Paul Robson

led, 4 lengths ahead 1st, not fluent and reduced lead 4th, good jump 5th, shaken up when mistake 3 out, pushed along and faced strong challenge before 2 out, headed 2 out, ridden approaching last

66/1

7th

10

22nd Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

13:40 Kelso

Kauto Of Gold

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Paul Robson

in touch with leaders on inner, pushed along before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden and weakened

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5-82

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved on his two bumper runs when creditable second to a smart sort over C&D on hurdles debut last month (Kondo Isami over 13l back in fourth); chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

18

23rd Sep 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:55 Listowel

Maughold Head

11st 1lb

T: E McNamara

midfield, stumbled badly and fell after 5th

3rd

2

16th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:10 Newcastle

Maughold Head

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Placed in novice events last autumn but has been pulled up in both handicap attempts (at 2m4f, the latest after wind surgery); ought to be capable of much better and perhaps cheekpieces can help but comes with risks.

5/1

8

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:00 Hexham

Maughold Head

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Unexposed; pulled up on handicap debut last time (December) having dropped out after pulling too hard on first run at 2m4f; has since had wind surgery; needs to settle better but worth considering.

7/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
42,000euros 3yo; half-brother to two French Flat winners; has already had wind surgery and wears a tongue-tie on debut; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:07 Ayr

One Mill Harbour

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Moffatt

Won three over fences in 2023; has yet to rediscover his form this term after an absence of 25 months but Brian Hughes rides for the first time.

4/1

4th

4

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

One Mill Harbour

11st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Goes back over fences for the first time since winning at Hexham (1m7f, heavy) in November 2023, one of three chase victories that year; however, he's been well below his best over hurdles on his two runs this winter, following a long absence, and has lots to prove regarding current form.

14/1

Form: 900

Last run: 52 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Poor form at big prices on three starts so far; would be a surprise winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 5

15:05 Carlisle

Maimies Magic

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: S R B Crawford

Two hurdle wins, at 2m2f and 2m1f, and has form over 2m6f; below best under conditions that should have suited in March and rather hard to know what to expect now sent over fences with tongue-tie left off.

9/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced performer on the Flat, best run when third in a 1m4f Musselburgh handicap in April (RPR 69); perhaps best watched on jumps debut
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

13:57 Sedgefield

Paramaribo

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Victor Thompson

Point (good) and 2m4f hurdle winner (soft) but has shown no worthwhile form under rules for almost two years and looks best watched.

20/1

11

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Paramaribo

10st 5lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Victor Thompson

In touch at 66-1 when unseating four out here last month but pulled up at 50-1 at Newcastle since; it's probably best to look elsewhere.

50/1

8

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Paramaribo

10st 10lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Victor Thompson

Flat, hurdle and point winner who was still in touch when unseating his rider four out in a Sedgefield handicap last time in the race in which Huit Reflets was second (2m3f, good to soft); not out of it.

50/1

Form: 4

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quite useful for Mark Johnston on the Flat in 2020/21, winning twice including a 1m4f York handicap; not so good since and was a well-beaten fourth in a fair C&D novice on hurdles debut last month (good to soft; 14l behind runner-up Maughold Head); a bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:55 Perth

Kondo Isami

11st 4lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

1m2f AW and 1m4f turf Flat winner (RPR 96); well below his best in that code for some time; well beaten on sole hurdles start in 2022; plenty to prove.

16/1

7th

4

(1)

22nd Jul 2024

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

14:30 Ayr

Kondo Isami

8st 11lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: R Mike Smith

reluctant to load, midfield

33/1

5th

5

(2)

31st Jul 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Ayr

Kondo Isami

9st 0lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: R Mike Smith

Yard has won two of the last three runnings and his mark continues to fall; however, he struggled last year and was tailed off on last week's reappearance here; a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

40/1

Non-runners

Kondo Isami

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.80
Straight Forecast £16.06
Trifecta £52.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Carnfunnock

POSTDATA:

Maughold Head

The Guardian:

Maughold Head

Daily Mirror:

Maughold Head

The Sun:

Maughold Head

Daily Record:

Maughold Head

RP Ratings:

Carnfunnock

The Times:

Carnfunnock

Telegraph:

Carnfunnock

Daily Mail:

Carnfunnock

D Express:

Carnfunnock

The Star:

Carnfunnock