16:15 Ayr

Saturday 18 April 2026

Premier Race Day Text
All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:48

Stagecoach Your Designated Driver Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 2  |   2m 5f 91y  |   9 Runners  |   Turf
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Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Point recruit who looked promising in bumpers and won as he liked on hurdles debut (final run for Noel Kelly) at around 2½m here (heavy) in February. This is more demanding but he's open to significant improvement for his new yard.
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Timeform
2
Horse silk
Laguna Beach42
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR:  127
Improved from hurdles debut when seeing off a pair of subsequent winners at Hereford in December. Late mistake proved costly at Ascot next time before struggling in a Grade 3 Sandown handicap. Will need to resume his progress in order to play a leading role in this contest.
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Timeform
4
Horse silk
Our Boy Stan127
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: B Pauling
Off the mark at the second attempt in bumpers and overcame inexperience to make a successful hurdling debut in 5-runner novice at Ffos Las (2m, soft) in November. Took a backward step at Cheltenham next time, though, and it would appear that some of these possess greater potential.
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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Stride On54
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR:  123| C
Bumper winner who made it third time lucky in this sphere with an impressive display here (19.5f, heavy) in February, storming clear in that maiden to win by 17 lengths. Early signs suggest that that wasn't the strongest of races but there's little doubt that this 6-y-o is very promising.
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Timeform
6
Horse silk
Timesareachanging28
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: Philip Donovan| T: A Slattery| OR:  127| BF
Point winner who made a successful start over hurdles in 12-runner Navan maiden (2¾m, heavy) in January. Headed close home after cutting out the running back at Navan in a novice event last month and should give another good account.
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Timeform
Safely held on Rules debut in a bumper at this course but took a step forward when runner-up on hurdling bow back here (2m, soft) last time. Promises to be suited by this stiffer test but Stride On is presumably the stable first-string.
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Timeform
8
Horse silk
West Hill Verde49
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR:  124
Runner-up on first of 3 bumper starts and going the right way over hurdles without winning, showing his best form yet when third of 10 in Grade 2 Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso last time, sticking to task after bad mistake 4 out. Will be a tough nut to crack if able to back that up here.
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Timeform
£40,000 purchase after winning an Irish point last spring and positive start under Rules when finding just one too good in a 13-runner Hexham maiden (2½m, heavy). It's a pretty big ask for her to go and beat the boys here but she's certainly not short of potential.
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Timeform

Non-Runners

3
Horse silk
Leader Crik49
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 5
T: N & W Twiston-Davies  J: Non Runner
NR

Forecasts

Apache Tribe (7/4), Timesareachanging (4/1), Stride On (9/2), Our Boy Stan (6/1), West Hill Verde (15/2), Leader Crik (8/1), Laguna Beach (10/1), Allfor (20/1), Queens Secret (50/1)

Verdict

WEST HILL VERDE's form in maiden hurdles is proving strong, particularly his Newbury third in November, and he is taken to deservedly open his account on the back of a fine effort in Grade 2 company at Kelso. The pick of several promising rivals could be Apache Tribe, who is open to any amount of improvement on debut for the Gordon Elliott yard, while Stride On and Timesareachanging command a second look also.

Prize Money

1st: £10,406.002nd: £4,784.003rd: £2,392.004th: £1,196.005th: £598.006th: £298.00

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