16:15 Ayr

Saturday 18 April 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:48

Stagecoach Your Designated Driver Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 42.74s

Apache Tribe⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| C

5/6

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.

Form: 21-511

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Laguna Beach⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127

9/1

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.

Form: 5-312P

Our Boy Stan¹²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: B Pauling

12/1

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.

Form: 21-16

Stride On⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 123| C

15/2

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.

Form: 31-241

Timesareachanging²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Philip Donovan| T: A Slattery| OR: 127| BF

15/2

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.

Form: 71/3132

Allfor⁴³

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

20/1

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.

Form: 2-62

West Hill Verde⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124

5/1

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.

Form: 8-53323

Queens Secret²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ruth Jefferson

28/1

£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.

Form: 41-2

Non-Runners

Leader Crik⁴⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Apache Tribe (5/6), West Hill Verde (5/1), Stride On (15/2), Timesareachanging (15/2), Leader Crik (8/1), Laguna Beach (9/1), Our Boy Stan (12/1), Allfor (20/1), Queens Secret (28/1)

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.