13:45 Ayr

Saturday 18 April 2026

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

CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 2  |   3m 20y  |   Heavy (Soft in places)  |   11 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:45  |   Winning time: 6m 44.01s
1st
Horse silk
8
18/1
T: T LaceyJ: Stan Sheppard
Midfield, in touch going easily 4 out, smooth headway to dispute lead 2 out, nudged along approaching last, soon led outright, won going away op 14/1
2nd
Horse silk
3
14
10/3f
T: L Russell & M ScudamoreJ: D R Fox
Disputed lead, headed before 11th, headway to press leader 4 out, disputed lead approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on approaching last, no extra and headed entering final 110yds op 4/1
3rd
Horse silk
½
13
5/1
T: L Russell & M ScudamoreJ: P W Wadge
Midfield, headway to dispute lead approaching 3 out, kept on approaching last, no extra and dropped to third run-in op 6/1 tchd 13/2
4th
Horse silk
12
7
710-12
20/1
T: S R B CrawfordJ: J J Slevin
Held up in midfield, not fluent 3rd, in touch 4 out, soon ridden, minor headway 2 out, soon outpaced by leaders op 18/1
5th
Horse silk
3 ½
6
13/2
T: C GrantJ: Danny McMenamin
Midfield, in touch 4 out, soon ridden, slow 3 out, soon edged right and rider unbalanced, weakened 2 out op 8/1
6th
Horse silk
nk
11
20/1
T: S ThomasJ: Dylan Johnston
Held up in rear, in touch 4 out where slow, soon ridden and outpaced, faded after 2 out op 11/1
7th
Horse silk
32
3
7/2
T: A J HoneyballJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Disputed lead, not fluent 10th, led outright before 11th, ridden and pressed for lead 4 out, headed approaching 3 out where mistake, soon weakened op 10/3

Also Ran

PU
Horse silk
2
12/1
T: O Greenall & J GuerrieroJ: Jack Tudor
Always behind, badly hampered 14th, soon pulled up op 16/1 tchd 11/1
F
Horse silk
9
20/1
T: Faye BramleyJ: H Cobden
Prominent, fell 14th op 14/1
PU
Horse silk
12
11/1
T: James MoffattJ: Ryan Mania
Took keen hold, midfield, not fluent 10th, lost touch approaching 4 out, soon pulled up op 9/1
PU
Horse silk
15
15/2
T: Ewan WhillansJ: Peter Kavanagh
Always behind, not fluent 10th, hampered 14th, pulled up before 4 out tchd 7/1
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Non-Runners

5
Horse silk
Al Kalila49
Weight: 11-0|  Age: 7
T: S R B Crawford  J: J J Slevin
NR
10
Horse silk
Diamond Dealer28
Weight: 10-11|  Age: 7
T: D Skelton  J: Harry Skelton
NR
4
Horse silk
Milcree35
Weight: 11-2|  Age: 8
T: N G Richards  J: Sean Quinlan
NR
1
Horse silk
Califet En Vol1
Weight: 12-0|  Age: 7
T: N J Henderson  J: James Bowen
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£19.10Pl:£4.60, £1.50, £1.90EX:£119.50Trifecta:£649.00Tricast:£352.58SF:£80.99Swingers:£17.20, £20.90, £3.60

Forecasts

Big John Wayne (10/3), Diamond Dealer (10/3), Kdeux Saint Fray (7/2), I Wish You (5/1), Young Jack (13/2), Califet En Vol (7/1), Blakey Boy (15/2), Caughtinyourtrance (11/1), Gamesters Guy (12/1), Al Kalila (14/1), Milcree (14/1), Pounding Poet (18/1), Ayiko (20/1), Just Over Land (20/1), Walking On Air (20/1)

Verdict

Lots with chances but Dan Skelton continues to bang in the winners and his upwardly-mobile DIAMOND DEALER is fancied to defy a career-high mark and garner a fourth chasing victory of the season. Caughtinyourtrance could emerge as the main danger with this step back up in trip a positive, although Kdeux Saint Fray, Just Over Land and I Wish You all command plenty of respect too in this cracking handicap.

  1. DIAMOND DEALER (IRE)
  2. CAUGHTINYOURTRANCE (IRE)
  3. KDEUX SAINT FRAY (FR)

Previous Winners

2025
Masaccio
Weight: 12-0  |Age: 8
J: Tom Cannon  |  T: A King
10/1

Prize Money

1st: £25,720.002nd: £11,825.003rd: £5,915.004th: £2,955.005th: £1,480.006th: £735.007th: £370.008th: £185.00

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