March 11 / 13.35 Ayr

13.35

Good

Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 14 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 98F56

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Fell on hurdling debut and well beaten the last twice, albeit showing ability on both occasions before weakening on heavy/soft ground; tongue tie goes on for handicap debut and he could improve if the going is less testing this time; interesting to see what the betting makes of him in relation to stable companion High Roller.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Perth

Artic Row

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Last three wins have been in 2m4f handicap chases at Ayr, although won a 2m Ayr novice handicap over hurdles in March 2023 (good); hasn't been in top form over fences on last three starts and probably best watched this time.

12/1

6

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Perth

Artic Row

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Last three wins have been in 2m4f handicap chases at Ayr, although won a 2m Ayr novice handicap over hurdles in March 2023 (good); hasn't been in top form over fences on last three starts and probably best watched this time.

12/1

5th

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Artic Row

12st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: N W Alexander

Three chase wins at Ayr (2m4f on soft/good to soft) last winter but below best there in March and at Carlisle since; Callum Pritchard takes off a helpful 5lb but adding cheekpieces acknowledges something needs to change.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 444576

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
No wins in 11 starts over hurdles and well beaten over C&D (heavy) on latest start in January; handicap mark on the slide but others are much less exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Fathers Advice

10st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Came good at 32nd attempt, from just out of the weights in Perth chase (3m, good) ten days ago; has run well here (albeit over hurdles) and is still unexposed over staying trips; no surprise if he features.

5/1

9

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Fathers Advice

10st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Came good at 32nd attempt, from just out of the weights in Perth chase (3m, good) ten days ago; has run well here (albeit over hurdles) and is still unexposed over staying trips; no surprise if he features.

5/1

7

14th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

19:30 Perth

Fathers Advice

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Has 0-31 strike-rate and is 2lb wrong today but ran quite well when upped to 3m over hurdles at Ayr (soft; also suited by good) in March and remains unexposed over this trip; back over fences today; not ruled out.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 853453

Last run: 67 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Winless in 21 starts over hurdles but has shaped well in all three runs for current yard, including when third on latest outing at Musselburgh (2m, soft) in January; claims on that form but his lack of wins is offputting; 2lb wrong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(9)

25th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

14:30 Musselburgh

My Macho Man

9st 2lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Katie Scott

Winless since his 3yo debut and has regressed under both codes in recent times; opposable.

10/1

10th

5

(6)

15th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

20:00 Hamilton

My Macho Man

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Katie Scott

Winless since his 3yo debut and has regressed under both codes in recent times; won't mind the softer ground, down another 3lb and going without the usual headgear by way of a change.

20/1

7th

3

(1)

5th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:05 Musselburgh

My Macho Man

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: Katie Scott

Debut AW winner (1m) who is on a 29-race losing run; last of seven when stepped up to 1m5f at Ayr latest; has finished runner-up over C&D (soft) previously; given a chance by the handicapper now, so not written off.

20/1

Form: -62338

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Maiden over hurdles but placed in three of six outings; fair effort when third on handicap debut over C&D (heavy) two starts ago but below that level of form when eighth at Carlisle latest; bit to prove after that display.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

5th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:30 Musselburgh

Hashtag Lord

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: James Ewart

Well handicapped on last season's hurdle form and he was a fair fourth on his chase debut here in November; however, he was disappointing when back over hurdles at Newcastle three weeks ago and the first-time tongue-tie needs to be the catalyst for a return to form.

11/1

6th

6

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:50 Newcastle

Hashtag Lord

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

Some fair efforts earlier this year among his first few handicap hurdles (including on heavy), and likewise on last month's chase and seasonal debut; returns to hurdles on a reduced mark and could be involved.

6/1

Form: 23450

Last run: 75 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Signs of ability but tailed off over 2m4f last time in a tongue tie (left off here); subsequent wind surgery needs to have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

15

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

11:42 Newcastle

Ginger Pointe

10st 6lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Danny Brooke

midfield

9/1

8th

15

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

11:42 Newcastle

Ginger Pointe

10st 6lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Danny Brooke

midfield

9/1

5th

9

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:00 Sedgefield

Ginger Pointe

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Danny Brooke

Scored over fences on stable debut in August and has remained in good form since (albeit suffered early mishap last time); likely to give another good account off his lower hurdle mark here.

10/1

Form: FP-523

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; 0-5 over hurdles but placed on both starts in handicaps on heavy/good to soft; should go well again but suspicion that one or two others may be better treated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

11th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:35 Ayr

Barnabas Collins

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Bumper winner; 0-5 over hurdles but placed on both starts in handicaps on heavy/good to soft; should go well again but suspicion that one or two others may be better treated.

13/2

3rd

9

10th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Barnabas Collins

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

prominent

5/1

Form: 6546-7

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in five starts over hurdles, latterly beaten a long way over 2m1f at Carlisle (good to soft); makes little appeal from 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

(7)

5th Oct 2023

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Toutatis

9st 0lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ewan Whillans

slowly away, held up in rear

14/1

6th

5

(2)

16th Sep 2023

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

18:35 Musselburgh

Toutatis

9st 1lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Ewan Whillans

raced in second

14/1

8th

8

(1)

7th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 32y

Class 6

19:35 Carlisle

Toutatis

9st 2lb

J: Graham Lee

T: Ewan Whillans

Remains winless but he posted a good second of seven in 1m5f Ayr handicap three weeks ago; possibilities.

7/1

Form: 87790-

Last run: 457 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Little impact in five starts over hurdles, the last of them on handicap debut in December 2021; not hard to oppose after his long absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:35 Hexham

Get Em In

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Fair effort when third in a 2m4f novice chase on this card last season (2m4f, good to soft); hasn't shown anything this year (ran out on second occasion); plenty to prove.

40/1

4th

12

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:35 Hexham

Get Em In

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Fair effort when third in a 2m4f novice chase on this card last season (2m4f, good to soft); hasn't shown anything this year (ran out on second occasion); plenty to prove.

40/1

7

6th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

15:45 Catterick

Get Em In

10st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

11-race maiden who ran out at the first fence at Musselburgh last month and is 13lb out of the handicap today; others are preferred.

50/1

Form: 31 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat performer who built on debut third over hurdles (soft) by making all in four-runner novice on good ground at Doncaster (2m) last month; tougher task off top weight and possibility of softer going a concern but has to enter calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(8)

5th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

14:00 Lingfield (AW)

Gift Of Raaj

9st 4lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

disputed lead early, prominent after 2f

8/1

4th

5

(5)

15th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 32y

Class 6

16:20 Beverley

Gift Of Raaj

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

prominent

12/1

4th

3

(4)

10th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 218y

Class 6

16:55 Redcar

Gift Of Raaj

9st 12lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Won this in 2021; tends to be all or nothing these days and his latest C&D fourth at a big price, when getting no peace in front (King Of Unicorns behind), was more like it on his second run back from a break.

8/1

Form: -70507

Last run: 127 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger; 0-10 over hurdles; won Sligo claimer on the Flat last summer but mainly struggled since; well beaten on the Flat when last seen in November; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

16th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

15:15 Wexford

Gamigin

11st 13lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

Three-time hurdles winner returned to form when runner-up at Down Royal (2m1, soft, 7-2 fav') in final start for Gary McGill in January; unfancied and well beaten in two runs for new yard; may go well back in 0-100 company now.

10/1

6th

4

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 165y

15:17 Downpatrick

Gamigin

11st 3lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Noel C Kelly

Three-time hurdles winner returned to form when second of 11 finishers at Down Royal (2m1f, soft) in January off 3lb lower; weak in the market for Ayr run last time, weakening quickly to finish last of six finishers; in the mix at his best.

9/2

6th

6

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Gamigin

11st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Noel C Kelly

Has won three times, including over C&D two years ago when trained by current handler, who has taken over once more after eight starts for Gary McGill; returned to form when second of 11 finishers at Down Royal (2m1f, soft) in January and this Irish-trained challenger should be in the firing line.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 603-52

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Stable companion of Gamigin; 0-10 over hurdles but last month's second at Punchestown (2m4f, yielding) was encouraging after nine months off; fair fifth here (2m4f, good) yesterday and might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 40y

13:50 Navan

Herculaneum

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Noel C Kelly

Most recent of three hurdle wins was in May 2024; off since later that year; may need this against that background.

12/1

2

(16)

2nd Sep 2024

Soft To Heavy

1m 4f 17y

18:45 Roscommon

Herculaneum

10st 1lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Noel C Kelly

Dual-purpose; 1-7 on the Flat; won over hurdles at Ballinrobe in May; below par on last Flat run at Fairyhouse; his flat win came off 64 at Down Royal (1m5f, good) and is 15lb higher here; handles testing ground but may need some respite from the handicapper.

25/1

6th

9

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Herculaneum

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Noel C Kelly

Consistency rewarded with a defeat of 15 rivals over 2m at Ballinrobe in May but after looking threatening to a point he faded into a remote fourth at Sligo (2m1f, good to yielding); remains on the same career-high mark.

25/1

Form: 53-34 BF

Last run: 107 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Definite signs of ability in both starts over hurdles, latterly when fourth of nine at Kelso (2m, soft) in November; has had wind surgery ahead of this first run in handicap company; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

8th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Ayr

Ninetofive

11st 11lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: Sandy Thomson

Placed in novice hurdles and he returned to form when runner-up in a Newcastle handicap (2m6f, soft) in January on his second start back from a long absence; could build on that last run and he's one to consider.

5/1

2nd

5

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Newcastle

Ninetofive

11st 10lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: Sandy Thomson

Pulled up at Kelso in October after a long absence and has to prove how much ability he retains; however, he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 8yo is of interest on the promise he showed in novice hurdles at Hexham (2m/2m4f, heavy/good) in spring 2023; could bounce back with bold show.

10/1

2nd

5

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Newcastle

Ninetofive

11st 10lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: Sandy Thomson

Pulled up at Kelso in October after a long absence and has to prove how much ability he retains; however, he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 8yo is of interest on the promise he showed in novice hurdles at Hexham (2m/2m4f, heavy/good) in spring 2023; could bounce back with bold show.

10/1

Form: 2-569

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in a bumper but well held in all three starts over hurdles; in good hands and may do better now handicapping; worth a check for market support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:20 Doncaster

Coniston Clouds

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lots to prove regarding current form having been struggled over fences/hurdles on his three starts this season, but they've all been on good ground which might not have suited; not discounted off dangerous mark.

16/1

11th

1

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

11:42 Newcastle

Coniston Clouds

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

midfield

16/1

11th

1

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

11:42 Newcastle

Coniston Clouds

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

midfield

16/1

Form: 4-37

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Best of three runs over hurdles when third of six over C&D (good to soft) in October; backward step when last seen at Newcastle in January but has had wind surgery since; tongue tie on for handicap debut; market strength would make him interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Gift Of Raaj, Gamigin, Herculaneum, Ninetofive, Coniston Clouds, High Roller

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.00
Straight Forecast £14.40
Tricast £109.18
Trifecta £107.00

Selections

Telegraph:

Gift Of Raaj

POSTDATA:

Barnabas Collins

The Guardian:

Ninetofive

SPOTLIGHT:

Artic Row

The Times:

Hashtag Lord

RP Ratings:

My Macho Man

Daily Mail:

Ninetofive

D Express:

Barnabas Collins

The Sun:

Barnabas Collins

Daily Mirror:

Gift Of Raaj

The Star:

Gift Of Raaj

Daily Record:

Gift Of Raaj