December 13 / 12.50 Doncaster

12.50

Good To Soft

2025 Annual Membership Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 88y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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2025 Annual Membership Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 23/8-4

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 9yo who returned from latest break with respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good) in September; only 1lb lower here but could still have a bigger run in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

20:53 Uttoxeter

Sauce Of Life

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Unbeaten in bumpers (2-2) and very lightly raced for his age; won a hurdle handicap at Doncaster (2m4f, good to soft) in December 2024 but he's had only two runs since and has struggled in both; has something to prove after another absence and he needs first-time cheekpieces to work.

16/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5/F541 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Former pointer who opened his rules account with pretty convincing success in Uttoxeter handicap hurdle (2m4f, good) last month, his third start for Stuart Edmunds; 7lb higher here but must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

17:05 Ascot

Court Cian

11st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent gelding who won by a comfortable 3l at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft; won on good) last time and the runner-up has since filled the same berth at Newbury; this 7yo was ideally positioned that day in what developed into a sprint finish but a 5lb rise could have been worse; Murray Dodd rides again claiming his 7lb.

9/4

1st

2

4th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

17:15 Market Rasen

Court Cian

11st 11lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Stuart Edmunds

Mostly consistent in his six runs for Stuart Edmunds, winning twice (2m4f/2m7f); a well-held third over C&D last month but Murray Dodd takes off 7lb and drying conditions are a further bonus.

6/1

3

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Court Cian

11st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Has won two of his five starts since returning to rules action in September, the latest by a wide margin at Fakenham (2m7f, good to soft); a 10lb rise asks questions of him but he's strongly considered.

6/4

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 3-P64

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Joined Sam England after running well from the front in slow-ground Cork bumper in April and has shown promise over hurdles this autumn, most recently when fourth in quite valuable Newcastle maiden (2m, good) a fortnight ago; upped in trip for handicap debut; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Willie Shake Hands

10st 8lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) last May and close third of six at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) in December; however, beaten 20l in fifth when upped in grade at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month and remains in Class 3 company today; a career-best is required.

12/1

5th

10

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:45 Haydock

Willie Shake Hands

10st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Sam England

Won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) last May and some good runs since, most recently close third of six at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) after a break; however, a career-best is needed now back up in grade.

14/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Made winning stable debut on the Flat in September and is 2-2 since switched to hurdling; probably fortunate at Sedgefield (2m4f, good; leader fell two out) but still features prominently in calculations on this handicap hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

15:23 Stratford

Charging Thunder

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Not at best on the Flat this year (albeit still capable of useful form) and managed only fourth of six when warm favourite for latest hurdle race, at Worcester (2m, good) in May; that said, he's a stout stayer on the Flat and could have untapped potential over this new trip over jumps.

9/4

11th

1

(12)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Charging Thunder

9st 12lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Not in peak form (hurdles or Flat) from last August onwards but it's not forgotten that he was third in the Plate itself last year off 3lb higher.

22/1

4th

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Worcester

Charging Thunder

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Dual hurdle winner who is 0-4 in handicaps; however, he should be on a fair mark given the level of his Flat ability and he ran quite well in a valuable Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting; player.

9/4

Form: 311F8

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer when based in Ireland and a dual winner against own age-group over hurdles for new stable this autumn (2m1f/2m); last month's Grade 2 defeat is easily excused and it will be interesting to see how he fares over this longer trip and against older horses on his handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Model Approach

11st 1lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Beaten a combined 70l in two soft-ground starts over fences but he won his third hurdle race when picking up a 12-runner Ffos Las handicap (2m, good) off this mark nine days ago; 5lb well in on handicap marks if he can transfer that form to chasing and there should be no ground excuses this time.

3/1

1st

11

5th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:48 Ffos Las

Model Approach

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Well treated if going back far enough but achieved little for current yard, over hurdles and fences; finished last of three on final run.

25/1

3rd

3

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:15 Southwell

Model Approach

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Well treated on best hurdles form but his record for current yard leaves a lot to be desired; switch to fences made no difference last time; the weakest contender.

8/1

13/2

Form: 77-314

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Built upon promising hurdle debut when winning at Uttoxeter in October and was not discredited when fourth at Chepstow (also 2m, good to soft) last month; moves up in trip for this handicap debut and probably still has more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:12 Market Rasen

Windsurfer

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

Won twice over hurdles at Uttoxeter; yet to show the same level of form over fences in four starts but has come down in the weights and is dropped in grade; no forlorn hope.

13/2

3rd

1

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:03 Wincanton

Windsurfer

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Two wins over hurdles at Uttoxeter, on good and good to soft; has mostly steered clear of slower ground and he's been no closer than 17l in three runs over fences.

10/1

9

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Windsurfer

11st 8lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

Both hurdle wins at Uttoxeter, the latest a 2m4f handicap which never looked in doubt; raised 6lb and a 7lb claimer rode last time, but his trainer sees him as more of a chaser; considered.

6/1

Form: 220-

Last run: 320 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in two juvenile hurdles for Alan King in November 2023 but absent since running poorly in 2m handicap here in January; change hands for 1,500gns in March; market may guide on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

18th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:21 Cartmel

Star Turn

10st 13lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Mickey Bowen

Returned from long absence with two hurdling seconds this spring (visored) and filled same position behind Kingofthegame in C&D chase three weeks ago (good; first-time blinkers); not yet exposed over fences; shortlisted.

7/2

2nd

7

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:55 Cartmel

Star Turn

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

13-race maiden; pulled up on only chase start, in February 2025 (2m2f, soft); comes here having run fair races over hurdles with a visor on last two starts; a possible back chasing with blinkers now tried.

6/1

2nd

9

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:48 Ffos Las

Star Turn

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

6yo maiden who ran well, one place in front of Les's Destiny Star, in first-time visor over C&D (good to soft) last month on debut for new stable and return from lengthy layoff; likely player provided that effort is backed up and the bounce is avoided.

4/1

Form: 615213

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Just held on at Southwell (2m, good) in October, his second hurdling win; no threat to front pair when third of five at Kempton since but combination of new trip and first-time cheekpieces may enable improvement here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Worcester

Ikigai Star

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Won off 10lb higher at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) last May but he's been disappointing since and was beaten 10l back on the Flat (1m6f) two weeks ago; has lots to prove and this is his first run beyond 2m5f.

6/1

5th

4

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Nottingham

Ikigai Star

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Charlie Longsdon

Regressed over hurdles since well held in two Flat starts last August; ran poorly in one previous try in a visor (usually wears cheekpieces), so positives are thin on the ground.

16/1

Non-runners

Diamond Dealer

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.70
Straight Forecast £10.13
Tricast £69.57
Trifecta £118.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Court Cian

TOPSPEED:

Sauce Of Life

The Times:

Charging Thunder

RP RATINGS:

Model Approach

Daily Mail:

Star Turn

D Express:

Willie Shake Hands

POSTDATA:

Court Cian

Telegraph:

Court Cian

Daily Mirror:

Court Cian

Daily Record:

Charging Thunder

The Sun:

Sauce Of Life

The Star:

Sauce Of Life