CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Ayr

13:45

Date 2026-04-18

Distance 3m20y

Class Class 2

Going Heavy

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £25,720

Weather Overcast

Temp 9.1°C

Wind 12mph SW

Rain 30%

Runners (15)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
14	Big John Wayne Bay J:Derek Fox T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	J:Derek Fox T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	147	—	/2-531	119	145	128	24d	—	—	+7	26.5	0.83/1	10/3 23%
Lightly raced 8yo who won at Hexham and the step up in trip could be a positive move
3	Kdeux Saint Fray Bay J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Anthony Honeyball	J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Anthony Honeyball	158	t	F12430	130	145	135	37d	—	—	+13	30.8	0.88/1	7/2 22%
Inconvenienced by the start at Cheltenham; retains potential, especially left-handed
13	I Wish You Chestnut J:Patrick Wadge T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	J:Patrick Wadge T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	148	p	-52431	120	146	133	51d	—	—	+23	34.4	1.63/1	13/2 13%
The form of his Wetherby win was franked and he's in good hands to continue to progress
6	Young Jack Bay J:Danny McMenamin T:Chris Grant	J:Danny McMenamin T:Chris Grant	153	p	-28221	125	145	132	35d	—	—	+28	38.8	1.63/1	13/2 13%
He's enjoyed a progressive first season over fences and did it nicely at Newcastle latest
15	Blakey Boy Brown J:Peter Kavanagh T:Ewan Whillans	J:Peter Kavanagh T:Ewan Whillans	142	p	7F2211	114	143	108	28d	—	—	+29	39.8	1.88/1	15/2 12%
Has won his last two; this is tougher but this 6yo may have more left in the tank
12	Caughtinyourtrance Bay J:Ryan Mania T:James Moffatt	J:Ryan Mania T:James Moffatt	150	tp	62P623	122	144	124	21d	—	—	+19	27.3	2.75/1	11/1 8%
Ran well in defeat last month in his first two chases and he's an each-way possible
2	Gamesters Guy Chestnut J:Jack Tudor T:Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero	J:Jack Tudor T:Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero	161	—	-31522	133	143	126	44d	—	—	+28	34.8	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Good form when winning two-runner novice chase in December but hasn't kicked on since
11	Just Over Land Chestnut J:Dylan Johnston T:Sam Thomas	J:Dylan Johnston T:Sam Thomas	151	t	4-1143	123	145	131	42d	—	—	+13	20.2	3.50/1	14/1 7%
3rd at Sandown despite mistakes; this trip is worth a go; could go well if finding fluency
8	Pounding Poet Bay J:Stan Sheppard T:Tom Lacey	J:Stan Sheppard T:Tom Lacey	152	tv	381253	124	142	134	110d	—	—	+23	28.6	4.50/1	18/1 5%
10yo who ran pretty well when back over fences in December but needs a bigger run today
7	Ayiko Bay J:J J Slevin T:S R B Crawford	J:J J Slevin T:S R B Crawford	152	tp	-U245P	124	147	137	12d	—	—	+15	19.9	5.50/1	22/1 4%
Pulled up at Fairyhouse just 12 days ago but the return to a left-handed track could help
9	Walking On Air Bay J:Harry Cobden T:Faye Bramley	J:Harry Cobden T:Faye Bramley	151	v	P-83P2	123	147	129	12d	—	—	+14	19.7	5.00/1	20/1 5%
Third at Doncaster in January but below par on his next two starts; wears first-time visor
NR	Califet En Vol Brown J:James Bowen T:Nicky Henderson	J:James Bowen T:Nicky Henderson	168	—	235147	140	145	137	1d	—	—	—	28.1	—	—
Won at Kempton in February; ran disappointingly at Ayr (2m4f) on Friday
NR	Milcree Bay J:Sean Quinlan T:Nicky Richards	J:Sean Quinlan T:Nicky Richards	156	—	16/11P	128	144	84	35d	—	—	—	19.5	—	—
Won his first two chase starts; pulled up at Uttoxeter last time but remains of interest
NR	Al Kalila Bay J:J J Slevin T:S R B Crawford	J:J J Slevin T:S R B Crawford	154	p	4-2331	126	143	132	49d	—	—	—	19	—	—
Won at Kelso last time but beat only three rivals and further improvement is needed
NR	Diamond Dealer Chestnut J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	151	t	-11P21	123	147	139	28d	—	—	—	36	—	—
3-5 over fences and he's clearly on the up for his top trainer; player

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Big John Wayne	10/3	10/3	10/3
Kdeux Saint Fray	7/2	10/3	7/2
I Wish You	13/2	13/2	13/2
Young Jack	13/2	13/2	13/2
Blakey Boy	7/1	15/2	7/1
Caughtinyourtrance	11/1	11/1	11/1
Gamesters Guy	12/1	12/1	12/1
Just Over Land	14/1	14/1	14/1
Pounding Poet	18/1	18/1	18/1
Ayiko	20/1	22/1	20/1
Walking On Air	20/1	18/1	18/1
Califet En Vol	-	-	-
Milcree	-	-	-
Al Kalila	-	-	-
Diamond Dealer	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Blakey Boy

39.8

OR: 16 Form: 20.7 Odds: 3.1

15/2

2nd

Young Jack

38.8

OR: 18.8 Form: 17 Odds: 3.1

13/2

3rd

Diamond Dealer

OR: 18.3 Form: 17.8 Odds: 0

—

Gamesters Guy

34.8

OR: 20.8 Form: 12.1 Odds: 1.9

12/1

I Wish You

34.4

OR: 17.5 Form: 13.6 Odds: 3.3

13/2

Kdeux Saint Fray

30.8

OR: 20 Form: 5.6 Odds: 5.2

7/2

Pounding Poet

28.6

OR: 18.5 Form: 8.5 Odds: 1.6

18/1

Califet En Vol

28.1

OR: 22.5 Form: 5.6 Odds: 0

—

Caughtinyourtrance

27.3

OR: 18 Form: 7.1 Odds: 2.2

11/1

Big John Wayne

26.5

OR: 17.3 Form: 3.5 Odds: 5.7

10/3

Just Over Land

20.2

OR: 18.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.9

14/1

Ayiko

19.9

OR: 18.5 Form: 0 Odds: 1.4

22/1

Walking On Air

19.7

OR: 18.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.5

20/1

Milcree

19.5

OR: 19.5 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Al Kalila

OR: 19 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Califet En Vol	140	145	137
Gamesters Guy	133	143	126
Kdeux Saint Fray	130	145	135
Milcree	128	144	84
Al Kalila	126	143	132
Young Jack	125	145	132
Pounding Poet	124	142	134
Ayiko	124	147	137
Just Over Land	123	145	131
Walking On Air	123	147	129
Diamond Dealer	123	147	139
Caughtinyourtrance	122	144	124
I Wish You	120	146	133
Big John Wayne	119	145	128
Blakey Boy	114	143	108

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Califet En Vol	1d ago	Quick return
Ayiko	12d ago	Quick return
Walking On Air	12d ago	Quick return
Caughtinyourtrance	21d ago	Fit
Big John Wayne	24d ago	Fit
Blakey Boy	28d ago	Fit
Diamond Dealer	28d ago	Fit
Young Jack	35d ago	Fit
Milcree	35d ago	Fit
Kdeux Saint Fray	37d ago	Fit
Just Over Land	42d ago	Fit
Gamesters Guy	44d ago	Fit
Al Kalila	49d ago	Fresh
I Wish You	51d ago	Fresh
Pounding Poet	110d ago	Long break

Class

Horse	Prev Class	Change
Gamesters Guy	Class Class 3	Class Drop

Compared to each horse's most recent recorded run. 1 drop, 0 rises.