December 21 / 12.40 Ascot

12.40

Good To Soft

Thames Materials Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8264.76
  • 2m 7f 118y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Thames Materials Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 0P-222

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Usually ridden by Olive Nicholls, making the running this season; runner-up for a sixth time (from ten hurdle starts) in nine-runner novice handicap over 3m here four weeks ago in second-time cheekpieces; edges up the weights again but should be seriously involved once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Thank You Maam

12st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Georgina Nicholls

Returned from layoff with three below-par chase/hurdle runs in February/March but, having swapped cheekpieces for blinkers, fared much better on last two appearances; lost out only by a nose after making most of the running at Warwick (3m1f, good) last time; can make another bold bid.

5/1

2nd

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 3

14:30 Warwick

Thank You Maam

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Back hurdling the last twice after a brief stint over fences; the first time he'd worn these aids combined when a front-running third at Wetherby (3m, good; beaten 4.25l); exposed but firmly in the mix.

5/1

3rd

2

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Thank You Maam

11st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Not solid on his chase/hurdles form this year; previously a consistent sort in this sphere and has a fighting chance off current mark back down in grade, provided he's resurgent.

7/1

5/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 5-U211 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles before he won at Fontwell (extended 2m6f, soft) in October; firmly in charge again over 2m7f at Lingfield (good) three weeks later and looks set for a bold bid here as well, despite going up another 6lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

17th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:57 Uttoxeter

Golden Ambition

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Disappointed when dropped back to 2m4f here in July but began his chasing career with two promising thirds (2m5f/2m7f, good) and will be suited by today's return to 3m; has a fighting chance if back on song.

9/2

9th

7

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:07 Uttoxeter

Golden Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Won twice over hurdles and has kicked off over fences with fairly close thirds over 2m5f here and 2m7f at Worcester; looks on the right sort of mark but considered each-way.

9/2

7

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:42 Worcester

Golden Ambition

11st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Dual hurdle winner who was beaten 5l on chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m5f; stays this far) where a mistake three out didn't help the cause; should run well.

8/1

Form: 16-21

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground bumper win on debut; pushed the 1-4 favourite all the way on hurdling debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good) and led on the line at Hereford (2m4f, good to soft) later in November; can improve again on this handicap debut, particularly as he is a strong candidate for this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

16:20 Leicester

Just Lucky Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Luca Morgan

Bumper/hurdle winner for Paul Nicholls; had an excuse (made a respiratory noise) when running below expectations at Leicester on chase/stable/seasonal debut; open to improvement with tongue-tie fitted.

8/1

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:25 Leicester

Just Lucky Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Luca Morgan

Lightly raced 7yo who won a bumper (heavy) and novice hurdle (2m3f, good to soft) for Paul Nicholls; changed hands for £5,000 last May; something to find on his stable and chase debut but it's possible he'll improve for fences, and Luca Morgan and James King combined to win this last year.

11/4

3rd

4

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Just Lucky Sivola

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 3 out

5/1

Form: /568-2

Last run: 224 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden for Laura Horsfall, easily her most competitive show over hurdles when staying-on second in a 2m maiden at Warwick (good) in May when last seen; tongue tied first time today; also has a very new trip and she's sister to useful 2m6f/3m hurdle winner Kerryhill; new trainer has had two wins (including this race last year), two seconds and a fourth from his only five runners over jumps at Ascot; all in all she looks interesting on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

4th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

14:53 Fakenham

Gotthereintheend

11st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won over hurdles in December and made all in four-runner C&D (good to soft) contest on chasing debut in March; safely held at Stratford since but remains unexposed over fences and that course form counts for a lot.

7/2

4th

4

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

16:33 Stratford

Gotthereintheend

11st 11lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Made a winning start over fences, following wind surgery, in 2m5f Fakenham handicap 15 days ago; up 5lb but she showed a good attitude there and jumped well so enters calculations.

7/2

1st

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

14:14 Fakenham

Gotthereintheend

11st 5lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Opened her account over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in December but was last of nine back there (2m7f, good to soft) the following month; has had wind surgery since and makes her chasing debut.

5/1

Form: 13

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Pretty useful at up to 2m on Flat in 2023 for Ralph Beckett; scored by 16l in slow-motion finish to a four-runner novice at Kempton (2m5f, good) this October on hurdles debut and backed up the form when third in better company at Haydock (1m7f, soft) 17 days ago; more is needed on this handicap hurdle debut but the 1m7f last time was probably too short.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(7)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Circuit Breaker

9st 8lb

J: Harry Burns

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Can set the pace; twice runner-up at Wolverhampton (1m6f/16.5f) during the winter and a good third of 14 in competitive event at Lingfield (2m, also AW; Tarbat Ness sixth) on Good Friday; turf no problem and he should give a good account.

8/1

3rd

11

(14)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Circuit Breaker

9st 4lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Often a front-runner; 1lb lower than when twice runner-up at Wolverhampton (1m6f/16.5f) during the winter and didn't enjoy much luck when behind a couple of these there last month, but the outside stall won't make things easy.

9/1

6th

4

(2)

3rd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

17:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Circuit Breaker

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Front-runner who was well beaten over hurdles last time but had previously twice finished runner-up here (1m6f/16.5f); may be happier back in this sphere, but likely to face competition for the lead.

5/1

Form: 53543/

Last run: 662 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Maiden after three bumpers and 12 races over hurdles; third over 3m here was one of his best efforts and he has a reduced mark, but absent for 662 days and does not look the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 118y

Class 3

13:15 Ascot

Golden Cosmos

10st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

0-10 in Ireland and 0-7 in Britain; pulled up over C&D in December but that was after a 662-day absence and he was an always-prominent third of 17 to Blue Hop at Doncaster (3m) three weeks ago, so needs a second look.

14/1

3rd

14

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

Golden Cosmos

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

midfield

20/1

3rd

14

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

Golden Cosmos

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

midfield

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.90
Straight Forecast £11.76
Trifecta £26.60

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Just Lucky Sivola

SPOTLIGHT:

Gotthereintheend

POSTDATA:

Golden Ambition

RP RATINGS:

Thank You Ma'am

Daily Mail:

Circuit Breaker

Telegraph:

Just Lucky Sivola

The Guardian:

Just Lucky Sivola

D Express:

Just Lucky Sivola

Daily Mirror:

Just Lucky Sivola

Daily Record:

Just Lucky Sivola

The Star:

Golden Ambition

TOPSPEED:

Gotthereintheend

The Times:

Gotthereintheend