November 13 / 13.15 Ayr

13.15

Good

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

2/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45
  • Place: £1.10

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat stayer who was commendable second in Northumberland Plate (2m, AW; RPR 95) this summer; had wind surgery soon after last month's respectable Cesarewitch run and appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to make a winning hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:20 Wetherby

Evaluation

11st 12lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Useful Flat racer who is still unexposed over hurdles and was close second in Perth handicap (2m, good) on latest outing two months ago; only 2lb higher here and ought to be right in the thick of things again.

7/2

5

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 2

18:07 Perth

Evaluation

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Smart handicapper on the Flat; a tad disappointing so far over hurdles given his ability but was close up in a C&D handicap three months ago when a stronger pace would have suited; could yet raise his profile in this discipline; 2lb out of the weights.

5/1

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

15:53 Perth

Evaluation

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Useful Flat performer (second in the 2024 Northumberland Plate); not as good over hurdles so far, winning over 2m at Ayr on debut in November (good; first run after wind surgery) and last time finishing runner-up at Kelso (2m, good); quite interesting on h'cap debut.

11/4

9/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some ability when fourth in three Irish points in 2021 but makes rules debut after a mammoth absence; had wind op in summer 2023; hooded for first time; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Clondaw Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Alison Thorpe

Pulled up on handicap debut for James Ewart in March but made short-odds favourite work very hard when second in C&D maiden (good ground) for new yard this month; player if in same form on today's slower ground.

7/2

2

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Clondaw Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Alison Thorpe

Pulled up on handicap debut for James Ewart in March but made short-odds favourite work very hard when second in C&D maiden (good ground) for new yard this month; player if in same form on today's slower ground.

7/2

2nd

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:15 Ffos Las

Clondaw Fame

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Alison Thorpe

Placed on first two of his three hurdling starts for James Ewart last season (2m/2m1f); disappointed when upped to 2m5f for handicap debut in March and was sold for £5,000 in May but can be competitive here if back on song for new stable; tongue-tie fitted.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to a useful French jumper; made very underwhelming rules debut when well-held fifth in soft-ground Hexham bumper last month but his convincing Irish point win on good ground in the spring offers hope he can fare better on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Gorvennec

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Irish point winner in May 2024 (3m, good); mainly disappointing over hurdles, particularly last season when back after wind surgery; visor now tried.

50/1

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:00 Perth

Gorvennec

11st 3lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Point winner; showed a bit in novice hurdles in November 2024 but tailed off in a novice hurdle and pulled up in a handicap chase in two outings this season over four months apart; fitted with first-time cheekpieces back hurdling; plenty to prove at present.

20/1

4

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Gorvennec

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Tailed off in a novice hurdle here in November when back from an absence and this is his first run since; however, he showed some ability in novice hurdles in November 2024 and this point winner could improve for the switch to fences; interesting contender on handicap debut.

8/1

Form: 48

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Posed no threat when among the outsiders for two Kelso hurdles last month (2m5f/2m).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Perth

Blow A Fortune

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Ran very poorly on handicap debut in December and not seen again since but remains very unexposed (particularly over this sort of trip) and is worth a glance in the betting; cheekpieces removed after one use.

20/1

3

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

13:57 Newcastle

Blow A Fortune

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

towards rear

7/1

3

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

13:57 Newcastle

Blow A Fortune

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

towards rear

7/1

Form: 6P-

Last run: 285 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only beaten about 6l when sixth of 14 in run-of-the-mill Newcastle bumper (good ground) last December but struggled (albeit on soft ground) when 200-1 for hurdle debut in February.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:42 Perth

Breadalbane Lass

11st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Kept on too strongy for Storm The Dug over C&D (good) in April, getting off the mark over hurdles at the 12th attempt, but was well held (albeit on soft ground) at Hexham last month; others have more potential.

7/1

4th

8

9th May 2026

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:47 Hexham

Breadalbane Lass

10st 11lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Off the mark over hurdles at 12th attempt, with clearcut success at Perth (2m, good) last month; 8lb rise demands more from her here but something may have clicked.

4/1

1st

14

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Breadalbane Lass

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Remains a maiden after 12 starts but she ran well when fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) last month and could get closer to the target today if staying straight (hung badly left on the run-in last time).

10/1

Form: 60

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made reasonably encouraging debut when sixth in Kelso bumper won by a useful mare in May but struggled to get competitive in C&D novice hurdle last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Catcha Flight

10st 2lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Modest so far and handicap debut at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) failed to raise her profile; 3lb out of the weights.

50/1

10th

14

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Catcha Flight

10st 2lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Modest so far and handicap debut at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) failed to raise her profile; 3lb out of the weights.

50/1

6th

9

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

13:20 Carlisle

Catcha Flight

10st 9lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear, headway before 2 out, edged right and weakened before last

25/1

Form: 7

Last run: 181 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In rear throughout when 16-1 for Perth bumper (good to soft) on debut in May; needs to take a big step forward on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:32 Perth

Split Stone

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Low-level form in a bumper and three hurdles; highly likely to be outclassed.

100/1

7

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:32 Perth

Split Stone

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Low-level form in a bumper and three hurdles; highly likely to be outclassed.

100/1

6

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

14:00 Musselburgh

Split Stone

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: N W Alexander

midfield, lost ground and reminders 4th, soon dropped to rear, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.80
Straight Forecast £2.53
Trifecta £5.50

Selections

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