January 23 / 16.00 Doncaster

16.00

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 0f 84y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 6-4111 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Raised another 6lb for bringing up his hat-trick at Taunton (3m, good; effective on softer) where he short-headed an in-form favourite with the pair dominant; every chance here with the likelihood of even further improvement (only a 6yo).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Mask Of Zorro

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Joe Tizzard

Has won all the handicaps he's contested, from 2m1f to 3m on all sorts of ground; he's had a 6lb rise since his hard-fought win at Doncaster but the in-form Rian Corcoran claims 7lb; hard to knock.

11/8

1st

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

16:00 Doncaster

Mask Of Zorro

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Raised another 6lb for bringing up his hat-trick at Taunton (3m, good; effective on softer) where he short-headed an in-form favourite with the pair dominant; every chance here with the likelihood of even further improvement (only a 6yo).

11/2

15

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

15:15 Fontwell

Mask Of Zorro

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Comfortably held in three bumpers and again in two maiden hurdles; one for handicaps.

50/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 421-45

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Only 5lb higher than for his Fontwell win last March (2m1f, good) and has returned from a break with competitive runs over 2m4f; whether he'll stay this far remains to be seen but he should have more races in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

13th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

14:40 Fakenham

Ilitch

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Flopped badly when favourite at Warwick last month (bled from the nose) but was one of two to pull clear of the others when second at Doncaster (3m, soft) in January and will be suited by the forecast faster ground here; can feature if back on song.

11/2

8th

8

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Ilitch

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Eventually overhauled in a sustained duel with the winner at Doncaster (3m) most recently but ran well to sustain his solid record since handicapping; may do better still; possibilities back down in distance.

11/2

2nd

6

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

16:00 Doncaster

Ilitch

11st 11lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Stuart Edmunds

Only 5lb higher than for his Fontwell win last March (2m1f, good) and has returned from a break with competitive runs over 2m4f; whether he'll stay this far remains to be seen but he should have more races in him.

8/1

Form: 331116 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Recently won three handicaps from 2m5f to 3m within the space of three weeks but an 8lb rise was surely a factor in the 10l defeat at Wetherby (2m5f), albeit in a Class 3; back into a Class 4 now but has to prove himself worthy of this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:35 Ayr

Be The Difference

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Three-time winner this season (2m5f-3m; soft) but subsequent defeats would suggest that the handicapper may now be in charge.

7/1

Form: 53-244

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Didn't look obviously well treated for his handicap debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) but was beaten under 5l and left the impression that further would suit; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:30 Newcastle

Milan Park

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Chris Grant

Soundly beaten trying 3m on penultimate outing; best form on starts either side when taking minor handicap honours at Wetherby (2m4f, soft) and Kelso (extended 2m6f, heavy) and those give him place claims.

5/1

3rd

7

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Milan Park

10st 11lb

J: William Maggs

T: Chris Grant

Weakened into well-beaten fourth at Doncaster (3m, soft) three weeks ago; however, prior to that he kept on well for a much closer fourth on handicap debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) and today's in-between trip could suit.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11/P-P D

Last run: 69 days

W: 12st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Uncompetitive in four starts divided between hurdling and the Flat since returning from a long absence and difficult to envisage a sudden resurgence at the age of 11.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Vee Dancer

11st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ryan Potter

An 11yo now and has pulled up in two hurdle races and a chase since returning from a lengthy break; what could help is getting away from soft ground, as good seems his preference.

14/1

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

Vee Dancer

11st 1lb

J: Mr James King

T: Ryan Potter

Point runner-up who is one to watch in the market in first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) on his chase debut; however, this 11yo has been pulled up over hurdles on his last two runs and a major turnaround is needed.

20/1

1

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

16:00 Doncaster

Vee Dancer

12st 1lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Ryan Potter

Uncompetitive in four starts divided between hurdling and the Flat since returning from a long absence and difficult to envisage a sudden resurgence at the age of 11.

33/1

Form: 12P/64

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Four-time Flat winner and added a small-field novice hurdle over two years ago; big prices and pretty much tailed off in two handicap hurdles last month but Brian Hughes now takes over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:03 Uttoxeter

Justus

11st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Out of form last season but seemed to have turned a corner when second off much-reduced mark at Hexham (2m, good) 16 days ago; player if in similar mood again here.

9/2

2nd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Justus

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles.

16/1

Form: 4-777

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Has hinted at ability in two of his four races (including last time) and this well-bred son of Walk In The Park now goes beyond 2m for the first time on his handicap debut; market confidence would heighten interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

7th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:15 Huntingdon

Greedy Smith

11st 13lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

0-6 over hurdles but responded well to first-time cheekpieces and belied 33-1 odds when second of 13 at Exeter (2m5f, good) last month; leading contender over this longer trip if the new headgear continues to help.

11/8

2nd

1

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Greedy Smith

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Nicely bred but hasn't raised his modest profile in two handicaps at about 3m the last twice; cheekpieces need to do something.

12/1

9th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Greedy Smith

11st 13lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Hard to make a solid case but the ground was soft when pulled up on his handicap debut at Doncaster where he was upped to 3m from 2m; also has questions to answer on this drier ground but this well-related 6yo could yet turn a corner.

10/1

Non-runners

Passing Pleasure, The Two Harrys, Balboa, Romeo Brown

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.70
Straight Forecast £5.82
Tricast £15.82
Trifecta £24.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Romeo Brown

Telegraph:

Mask Of Zorro

D Express:

Passing Pleasure

SPOTLIGHT:

The Two Harrys

The Times:

Greedy Smith

TOPSPEED:

Ilitch

The Star:

Mask Of Zorro

Daily Record:

Mask Of Zorro

The Sun:

Passing Pleasure

LAMBOURN:

The Two Harrys

POSTDATA:

Romeo Brown

The Guardian:

Romeo Brown

Daily Mail:

Romeo Brown

Daily Mirror:

Romeo Brown