April 20 / 16.45 Ayr

16.45

Soft

Tennent’s Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10406
  • 2m 4f 100y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Tennent’s Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.20

Form: P4-113

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Has a 3m Grade 1 entry at Punchestown; kicked off for this yard with wins in two minor hurdles before showing much improved form to finish a 2l third in the Martin Pipe Handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, heavy) for which he was a big talking horse beforehand; travelled well then before staying on and that effort gives him compelling claims in a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Quai De Bourbon

10st 9lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: W P Mullins

Third in the 3m5f Irish National last April, despite an indifferent round of jumping, and third of 16 with cheekpieces at Leopardstown on latest outing was his best form, despite just the 2m5f; kept jumping out to his right in the latter and although a case can be made for him, it would have to gloss over that he's completed only four of his eight chases.

25/1

3rd

1

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Quai De Bourbon

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won 2m4f Gowran beginners' chase last season but completion record since has been poor, standout run when good third in 3m5f Irish National, despite indifferent round of jumping; pulled up both outings this term in 3m handicaps, in Troytown at Navan and after a hesitant round of jumping in Thyestes at Gowran in January; hard to be confident in.

7/1

3

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Quai De Bourbon

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won 2m4f beginners' event on this card last year; made a bad mistake and unseated rider four out in the Brown Advisory; making progress when brought down four out in the Mildmay; fine effort, despite an indifferent round of jumping, when third in the Irish Grand National; weakened from five out when favourite for the Troytown at Navan on seasonal debut.

8/1

OUR TIP

20/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 2-1215 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who beat a useful horse to get off the mark over hurdles at Ludlow in November (2m5f, good to soft); the penalty found him out in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham next time and it could be a similar tale here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:03 Wexford

Choccabloc

10st 13lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Andrew McNamara

128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson; remote second in 2m6f Fairyhouse novice his best run over fences for current yard, most recently pulled up after never travelling in 2m5f Fairyhouse handicap on Saturday; hard to fancy unless quicker ground brings serious improvement.

20/1

8

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Choccabloc

10st 13lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Andrew McNamara

Bumper winner and fair 128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson, stayed 2m5f; beaten 14l in second over C&D in January before being pulled up in a 3m event at Navan; suffered the same fate in a Limerick race won by Kings Hill; questions to answer.

16/1

3

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 185y

14:54 Limerick

Choccabloc

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Andrew McNamara

Bumper winner and fair 128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson, stayed 2m5f; ran well up to the point of his fall two out over C&D on his second Irish start; fair second at Fairyhouse before being pulled up in a 3m handicap at Navan; out of his depth in a 2m Grade event on latest.

10/1

Form: 0-2124

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner (good/soft) and won a Haydock novice (heavy) on his second run over hurdles; limitations somewhat exposed since then (in good company) and could be up against it again here; unraced beyond 2m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Berties Ballet

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Won a Class 3 handicap at Haydock last season off this mark so wouldn't be too dismissive about his chances despite failing to reach anything like the same level in two of his three races this campaign.

20/1

12th

14

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Berties Ballet

10st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Dianne Sayer

On a handy mark on last winter's form and he was an encouraging fourth of nine over C&D recently on his second start back from a long absence; however, this is a higher grade than he's used to; could be vulnerable.

33/1

4th

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Berties Ballet

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Dianne Sayer

Others have less to prove regarding current form but he shaped at Haydock last month as though he may have needed that comeback run; on a competitive mark and he's well suited by testing ground; not discounted.

6/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m4f good-ground winner in France (ran only twice); returning from 548 days off when well on top in the finish of a 2m4f maiden at Punchestown in January (heavy; some novicey jumping) and impossible to know how good he could be; holds Grade 1 entries at Punchestown over 2m, 2m3f and 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

22nd Nov 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 110y

15:42 Tipperary

Billericay Dickie

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

in rear, in touch with leaders when jumped slightly left 9th, not fluent 10th

14/1

Form: 61-251 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Winning chaser in France and first two runs for this yard were over fences; made all on his return to hurdling at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) and probably beat a good horse, despite that one flopping since; lightly raced and in top hands, so hard to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

20th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:20 Southwell

Jetronic

11st 10lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Inconsistent for new stable last season but ran well before fading into third in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury (2m, good) in March and has good claims in this easier race if the headgear continues to aid.

4/1

4th

2

20th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:20 Southwell

Jetronic

11st 10lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Inconsistent for new stable last season but ran well before fading into third in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury (2m, good) in March and has good claims in this easier race if the headgear continues to aid.

4/1

3rd

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Jetronic

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

In and out since coming to Britain from France, but he shaped quite well when fifth of nine over C&D in November (good to soft; Beau Balko second) and he's now 7lb lower; shaped better than the bare result (made a bad mistake) when fourth of seven at Stratford 12 days ago; needs to put everything together but first-time cheekpieces and a returning tongue-strap could help.

16/1

Form: 12 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressive winner of a 2m4f Leopardstown maiden (soft) in March and would have pushed his market rival (Willie Mullins novice) closer at Navan had he not fluffed the last flight; has a 3m Grade 1 entry at Punchestown and he's open to considerable improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

4th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Twoohthree

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

held up in rear, jumped slightly right 3rd, headway and prominent behind clear leaders before 6th, joined leaders going easily after 2 out, led and went clear before last, stayed on, easily

10/1

Non-runners

Dripsey Moon, Phantomofthepoints

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.40
Straight Forecast £11.16
Trifecta £39.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Quai De Bourbon

The Times:

Billericay Dickie

TOPSPEED:

Twoohthree

LAMBOURN:

Choccabloc

WEST COUNTRY:

Jetronic

Daily Mail:

Billericay Dickie

Daily Record:

Billericay Dickie

POSTDATA:

Twoohthree

RP RATINGS:

Quai De Bourbon

Telegraph:

Quai De Bourbon

The Guardian:

Quai De Bourbon

D Express:

Quai De Bourbon

Daily Mirror:

Quai De Bourbon

The Sun:

Quai De Bourbon

The Star:

Quai De Bourbon