December 22 / 12.45 Ascot

12.45

Good To Soft

Howden Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8792.86
  • 2m 5f 141y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Howden Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 883-21 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has a fine record over this sort of trip as a hurdler, including scoring by a neck in 15-runner race at Doncaster on latest outing; possibly best on good or good to soft but he demands plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:30 Uttoxeter

Immortal Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

2m4f winner here over hurdles and fences with a little give underfoot, and possible excuses on both starts since his most recent success elsewhere (holding ground, pace battle); remains above any winning mark.

7/1

4th

2

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Immortal Fame

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Deborah Cole

Five-time hurdle winner who has raced exclusively over fences since joining Deborah Cole in the middle of 2024, scoring a further four times, including over 2m4f here last season; off the mark for the current campaign when shading a close finish at Market Rasen (3m, soft) in February but pulled up when favourite at Hereford since and now back over timber.

9/1

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Immortal Fame

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Three wins last term; got off the mark for the season when winning by a head at Market Rasen last time (3m, soft; first two clear); up 3lb; chance.

11/4

11/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 931-21

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Second over 3m on only start pointing; 2-4 in bumpers and made a solid start over hurdles when second at Newton Abbot (2m1f, soft) and making all in a maiden at Fakenham (2m, good to soft); dictated at 4-5 in slowly run race for the latter; unexposed sort who takes a marked step up in trip for this handicap debut (non-runner over 3m on heavy 13 days ago) and is one to note.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

25th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:23 Cartmel

Roger Pol

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Won three 2m7f handicaps (all on good) in early part of last season; made low-key return behind Tranquil Sea last month but that race was competitive and, with that run behind him, he may yet have more improvement to come.

11/1

7th

4

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 2

15:27 Plumpton

Roger Pol

11st 8lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Absent since an October double (2m7f Class 3) that took his hurdles record to 4-12; returns to action off a stiffer mark in deeper waters and looks by no means certain to bag the hat-trick.

12/1

3

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 3

16:20 Hexham

Roger Pol

11st 12lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Has quickly struck up a good partnership with Isabelle Ryder and he came from well back to win easily at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) last Sunday; if he's in the same sort of form he'll be in the mix again under a 7lb penalty.

5/4

7/1

  • Place: £4.40

Form: 20-23

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery after his second bumper; better to be placed this autumn at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) and Wetherby (2m, heavy; tongue tied) in his first two starts over hurdles; needs to improve his jumping but there is plenty of encouragement in his pedigree for this longer trip, including as half-brother to the high-class chaser Any Second Now; considered on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Delgany Bobby Blue

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made the frame on all four hurdling starts during 2023-24 season, most recently when third in Wetherby handicap (3m, soft); not sure to be suited by the quicker ground here but should cope with the drop back in trip; major player if fully tuned up after 507-day absence.

9/4

2

3rd Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Delgany Bobby Blue

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made the frame on all four hurdling starts during 2023-24 season, most recently when third in Wetherby handicap (3m, soft); not sure to be suited by the quicker ground here but should cope with the drop back in trip; major player if fully tuned up after 507-day absence.

9/4

3rd

2

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

13:40 Wetherby

Delgany Bobby Blue

12st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 6yo who has posted some solid efforts, including on heavy ground and when fair third on handicap debut at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) three weeks ago; he's a half-brother to Any Second Now, who has twice been placed in the Grand National, and could improve now up in trip again.

11/2

Form: P-5243 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
2-5 at Ascot; mostly disappointing in his nine runs this year, including twice at this track, and his best run in that period came when runner-up over 3m2f in May; wore cheekpieces on last four starts; 12lb higher this time last year but a revival is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

12:45 Ascot

Fifty Ball

11st 6lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary Moore

2-5 at Ascot; mostly disappointing in his nine runs this year, including twice at this track, and his best run in that period came when runner-up over 3m2f in May; wore cheekpieces on last four starts; 12lb higher this time last year but a revival is needed.

8/1

12/1

Form: 163142

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Consistent sort who has won three times this year, latest at Bangor in September and he was runner-up there in early October when last seen; this trip is some concern given that most of his runs this year (and the wins) have been over 2m7f-3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Halifax

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Best effort this term when second in this grade at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) on penultimate start; on last winning mark so holds a fighting chance from a handicapping perspective.

8/1

7

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Halifax

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Well handicapped and looked booked for a return to winning ways at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) until reeled in late on; strongly considered on the back of that effort.

3/1

2nd

7

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

19:28 Market Rasen

Halifax

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Back on same mark as Kempton win in May 2024 (3m, good); likely to be all the better for his latest run (first for 290 days); interesting.

8/1

Form: -81213 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Goes well for a claimer and resurgent on last four outings, including wins at Fontwell (2m5f) and Ascot (2m3f, soft); made the running in the latter and again when better than ever in close third here (3m, good) on latest outing; up another 2lb but should be bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Rebel Intentions

10st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Annabelle Sowray

Two good runs over 3m1f at Catterick earlier in the season but form has gone cold; others preferred.

20/1

6th

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

16:30 Catterick

Rebel Intentions

11st 3lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Annabelle Sowray

Two good C&D placed efforts on good/good to soft in December/January; pulled up on testing ground here last time; better ground should suit.

9/1

Form: 61/P-5

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced in the last two years; pulled up on chase debut in October 2022 and below form back over hurdles when next seen late last month; tongue tied on last three starts and now also sports cheekpieces; won off this mark in April 2022 but it's hard to be that confident in a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Mot A Mot

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sam Thomas

3lb below his last winning mark but hasn't shown sufficient in two outings following more than a year out to persuade especially, notwithstanding a drop in class here; cheekpieces debuted last time are retained.

16/1

7th

7

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

12:45 Ascot

Mot A Mot

11st 2lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Sam Thomas

Very lightly raced in the last two years; pulled up on chase debut in October 2022 and below form back over hurdles when next seen late last month; tongue tied on last three starts and now also sports cheekpieces; won off this mark in April 2022 but it's hard to be that confident in a revival.

12/1

Form: PP5-66

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won twice (2m4f/2m3f on good, latest last December) but ended his time at Nicky Henderson's mostly out of form; back up from 2m/1m7f today but has not accomplished enough in his two runs for new yard to be persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:52 Ludlow

Rathmacknee

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Danni O’Neill

Regressive 10yo who is better known as a chaser now and was just a modest third at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; reverts to hurdling on a tempting mark but others have more appealing profiles.

12/1

8

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

15:47 Stratford

Rathmacknee

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Danni O’Neill

Has some fairly useful form on his CV but has become disappointing; returned from a break with respectable fourth in modest Worcester handicap (2m, good) in June but his 2m4f run there in July was below that level.

16/1

8

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

15:47 Stratford

Rathmacknee

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Danni O’Neill

Has some fairly useful form on his CV but has become disappointing; returned from a break with respectable fourth in modest Worcester handicap (2m, good) in June but his 2m4f run there in July was below that level.

16/1

Form: 2P13P- D

Last run: 237 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Only two good runs from her six handicaps, the last five of which have been over fences; the latest good show was a win in five-runner race at Bangor (2m4f, good to soft) in February; chance if she's back in that mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 3

15:15 Plumpton

Fable

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, detached halfway

20/1

11th

7

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 3

15:15 Plumpton

Fable

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, detached halfway

20/1

6

21st Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

14:35 Doncaster

Fable

11st 9lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

in touch with leaders

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 414-11

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
1-3 in bumpers, the win on good to soft and below form sole start on soft; absent 320 days before easily winning last month over hurdles at Hereford (2m4f, good) in a maiden and novice; hot favourite in both of those and this handicap debut presents much sterner opposition but he's promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Magic Seven

11st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner (2m-2m3f) who is still seeking a first chase success after four attempts over fences, though he's gone close on a couple of occasions; the drop in trip will not be an issue and he's not yet fully exposed, but he'll need to step up on those efforts if he's to break his duck.

10/1

5th

8

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 Worcester

Magic Seven

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner (2m-2m3f); not one to rely upon heavily nowadays but ran well in defeat over fences at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm) last month and has possibilities if this new trip suits.

8/1

1

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Magic Seven

12st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner, most recently off this mark at Exeter (2m, good) in November; made a promising chase debut in May when a staying-on second at Huntingdon (2m, good) but never involved at Newton Abbot (2m, good to soft) last month, shaping on both occasions as though a step back up in trip would help; player.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.30
Straight Forecast £25.89
Tricast £374.85
Trifecta £423.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rebel Intentions

WEST COUNTRY:

Magic Seven

RP RATINGS:

Roger Pol

POSTDATA:

Immortal Fame

The Guardian:

Halifax

The Times:

Fifty Ball

Telegraph:

Magic Seven

Daily Mail:

Magic Seven

LAMBOURN:

Roger Pol

Daily Record:

Roger Pol

TOPSPEED:

Rebel Intentions

Daily Mirror:

Rebel Intentions

The Star:

Rebel Intentions

D Express:

Immortal Fame

The Sun:

Immortal Fame