January 08 / 13.10 Ayr

13.10

Soft

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 5f 91y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 95-417 BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish pointer; won a Hexham novice handicap off 5lb lower in October (2m, heavy) but poor run at Carlisle last time (2m3f, good to soft); unexposed; best efforts have been at 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

20:08 Cartmel

Hostile Hotelier

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Four-time hurdle winner who is 0-6 over fences (despite a lower mark) and was beaten a good way at Hexham (3m) on his return to this discipline after a break; the other two appeal more.

100/30

4th

4

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Hostile Hotelier

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Four-time hurdle winner, including over 2m on heavy ground here; decent second over fences at Sedgefield in October (3m2f, good) but last two runs have been over hurdles (took a heavy fall when running well last time); a possible.

13/2

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Hostile Hotelier

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Had a break since finishing lame when second on his return to hurdles at Newcastle in October (2m7f, good; handles softer); looks high in the weights now but he's likeably consistent.

7/1

Form: 60-31 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish pointer; won on handicap at debut over C&D last time (heavy); an unexposed sort who should go well again despite 5lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Cream Of The West

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

Sole attempt in Class 5 resulted in a hurdles win off this mark; possibilities returned to this grade on third chase start.

8/1

3

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Cream Of The West

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

Sole attempt in Class 5 resulted in a hurdles win off this mark; possibilities returned to this grade on third chase start.

8/1

4th

6

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 4

14:00 Haydock

Cream Of The West

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

Made an early mistake and unable to threaten when sixth of 14 on this month's chase and seasonal debut at Hexham (2m4f, soft), but he made some late headway; won over 2m7f on heavy ground over hurdles at Hexham in March and he could have a part to play now upped in trip.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 445-44

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Fair form in bumpers and in two runs over hurdles, last time finishing fourth in a mares' novice at Newcastle (2m4f, soft); unexposed; an interesting contender on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:45 Ayr

Carrigeen Kali

11st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Weakened quickly in Kelso novice last month and needs to put that performance behind her but wasn't beaten far when fourth on first two hurdling starts (2m/2m4f, both on soft) and moves into handicaps with potential.

8/1

0

7

14th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:20 Kelso

Carrigeen Kali

10st 13lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Rallied for 8l fourth in mares' maiden hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, soft) in November and today's extra yardage could prompt some improvement; however, she's 0-6 and there's a suspicion others have greater potential.

12/1

Form: 5346-P

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Ex-Tom Lacey; signs of promise in bumpers and over hurdles/fences; pulled up in a novice handicap hurdle on return from a 422-day break here last month; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

8th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Ayr

Toucan Sam

10st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

His mark continues to fall but this 7yo remains a maiden after 21 rules starts and recent evidence doesn't indicate a win is imminent.

25/1

10

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:20 Doncaster

Toucan Sam

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

Made it 0-20 under rules when pulled up over fences at Ayr last week; however, before that he posted two fair runs over hurdles (2m5f/2m) and shaped as though he would benefit from this longer trip; well treated on last spring's chase form; could appreciate the return to hurdling; interesting.

33/1

9

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:20 Ayr

Toucan Sam

10st 13lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

19-race maiden; placed in handicap, a couple of hunter chases and in two points last year; two fair runs over hurdles this term after wind surgery; well handicapped but others appeal more.

20/1

Form: 35-F54

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Third in a Newcastle bumper in March (2m1f, heavy); modest form over hurdles, including on handicap debut at Newcastle last month (2m4f, heavy); more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Greenhill Gardens

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Likely to have had a major say in the outcome but for the late voiding of a race at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March; let down by his hurdling both subsequent starts; tackles a new trip but is capable of being involved from an easing mark, in a newly applied tongue-tie, if hurdling slicker.

13/2

6th

4

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Greenhill Gardens

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Likely to have had a major say in the outcome but for the late voiding of a race at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March; let down by his hurdling both subsequent starts; tackles a new trip but is capable of being involved from an easing mark, in a newly applied tongue-tie, if hurdling slicker.

13/2

6th

12

13th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

15:25 Newcastle

Greenhill Gardens

11st 1lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

12/1

Form: 6/PP-P

Last run: 86 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; 0-25; pulled up on three starts over fences since joining present yard; tongue-tie now tried; plenty to prove back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

15th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Hell On Earth

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Catch Bissett

Pulled up over fences on all three outings last year; showed some of his old zest when back over hurdles at Ayr (3m, good) last month but was on the retreat before falling at third-last flight; others preferred.

50/1

11

15th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Hell On Earth

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Catch Bissett

Pulled up over fences on all three outings last year; showed some of his old zest when back over hurdles at Ayr (3m, good) last month but was on the retreat before falling at third-last flight; others preferred.

50/1

9

9th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:18 Ayr

Hell On Earth

10st 13lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Catch Bissett

taken down early, mounted in chute

50/1

Form: P76-P6

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Modest form at up to 3m over hurdles, although fair sixth at Musselburgh last time (3m, good to soft); 4lb out of the handicap; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Sandy Forster

towards rear

33/1

11th

12

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Sandy Forster

towards rear

33/1

6th

12

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Forster

in rear, not fluent 4th

14/1

Verdict

In a weakish handicap the progressive CREAM OF THE WEST is taken to follow up his win here last time despite a 5lb rise. Stable companion Carrigeen Kali and Toucan Sam look his main dangers.[Colin Russell]