14:43 Ayr

Thursday 29 January 2026

All13:1313:4314:1314:4315:1315:4316:13

Coral Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 7.22s

Cavalier Du Luy³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113| D

9/2

Irish point winner who was a promising second at this C&D sent hurdling in November. Went one better when landing the odds in a Kelso maiden (16.2f, soft) the following month and he's respected with further progress to come.

Form: 431-21

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Irandando Has⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby Wynne| T: S Allwood| OR: 117| D

12/1

Fairly useful second in listed hurdle at Auteuil on debut for Francois Nicolle in September 2022. Made light of lengthy absence (had wind op) when winning maiden at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft) in December and he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 2/1

Sanilam²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115| CD

7/2

Bumper winner at this course (only start for Claire O'Connell) and has been going the right way over hurdles this season, running out a clear-cut winner in maiden at this C&D (soft) 27 days ago. Capable of another bold bid.

Form: 15-631

Stede Bonnet²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

8/11

Successful twice from 3 starts in bumpers and has improved with each of his 3 runs over hurdles, scoring readily in 13-runner maiden at Tramore (16.8f, soft) 28 days ago. Leading contender with more still to offer.

Form: 21162-1

Belvedere Bhoy¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

200/1

Sent off favourite when finishing mid-field in a Hexham bumper but hasn't offered much in 3 starts over hurdles, always behind when eighth of 10 in novice at this C&D (heavy) 16 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 68F8

Irish Champ^p1,t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

6/1

Winner of sole outing in points and, with hood and tongue strap fitted, showed promise when fourth of 11 in maiden at Leopardstown (20.5f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 31 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 14

Run Baby Run^p1⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith

300/1

Has shown little encouragement so far, pulled up in 2 novice hurdles at this C&D in November. Cheekpieces now reached for but he looks to be up against it.

Form: PP

Valtteri Its James¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

100/1

Successful on last of 3 starts in Irish points but well held on Rules debut when eleventh of 15 in bumper at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft) 2 weeks ago. Needs to leave recent run well behind sent hurdling.

Form: 5B1-0

Non-Runners

Le Beau Madrik²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Stede Bonnet (8/11), Sanilam (7/2), Le Beau Madrik (7/2), Cavalier Du Luy (9/2), Irish Champ (6/1), Irandando Has (12/1), Valtteri Its James (100/1), Belvedere Bhoy (200/1), Run Baby Run (300/1)

STEDE BONNET matched the form he had shown when winning twice in bumpers when opening his hurdles account at Tramore last time and he can continue his progression to follow up. Next best could be Irish Champ, who shaped promisingly at Leopardstown on his hurdling debut, with Cavalier du Luy completing the shortlist.