16:45 Ayr

Saturday 20 April 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Tennent's Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 11.19s

Choccabloc⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126

14/1

Bumper winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when edging out a subsequent winner at Ludlow (21.2f) in November. Not disgraced upped in grade at Cheltenham 11 weeks later but faces another stiff task.

Form: 32-1215

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Quai De Bourbon³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

8/11

Left his French form behind when winning big-field maiden at Naas on his Irish debut after 13 months off. Made to work hard when following up at Clonmel (16.5f) prior to running a cracker in the Martin Pipe on handicap debut. Sets the standard and should continue to progress.

Form: P4-113

Bertie's Ballet⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 120

12/1

Useful dual bumper winner (second victory here) who is improving over hurdles, scoring in the mud at Haydock (2m) in December and running well in Grade 2 at Kelso (18.2f) 7 weeks ago. Bred to be suited by this longer trip and may do better still.

Form: 10-2124

Billericay Dickie^t1⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

4/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who looked a good prospect when landing a 2½m Punchestown maiden on hurdles debut for new yard in January, quickening to lead approaching last and going clear. Open to significant improvement.

Form: 1

Jetronic^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

20/1

Chase winner in France who opened his hurdling account on third start for Paul Nicholls in a slowly-run Plumpton novice (20.5f, soft) last month. This demands a lot more, however.

Form: 361-251

Twoohthree²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

7/1

Promising points scorer who also won 7-runner novice hurdle (7/1) at Leopardstown (20f) in good style on Rules debut last month, cruising clear. Failed to build on that promise at Navan last time but shaped better than the distance beaten suggests and remains open to improvement.

Form: P112

Non-Runners

Dripsey Moon¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: J C McConnell J: Craig Nichol

Phantomofthepoints¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Quai De Bourbon (8/11), Billericay Dickie (4/1), Twoohthree (7/1), Bertie's Ballet (12/1), Choccabloc (14/1), Phantomofthepoints (16/1), Jetronic (20/1), Dripsey Moon (33/1)

QUAI DE BOURBON looked a smart performer in the making when posting an excellent third in an exceptionally strong renewal of the Martin Pipe at last month's Cheltenham Festival, so he's very much the one to beat, especially with further progress on the cards. Unexposed pair Twoohthree and Billericay Dickie are feared most.