January 28 / 12.50 Doncaster

12.50

Good

SBK Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 3f 31y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
SBK Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.60
  • Place: £2.20

Form: P-2314 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Placed in his first two chases (on soft) and looked much more assured over the fences when drawing 19l clear at Doncaster (3m2f, good) in December to register his first win; not disgraced at Newcastle on latest outing but this is quite a rethink over his trip and he also has cheekpieces (tried on final start last term, pulled up) reinstated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Snowy Evening

11st 11lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dual winner over fences at Doncaster on good; yet to win over hurdles and this is his first run in this sphere since March 2023; possibly better for this race before a summer campaign over fences.

12/1

3rd

1

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

14:05 Doncaster

Snowy Evening

12st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

led

5/2

1st

4

28th Jan 2024

Good

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

12:50 Doncaster

Snowy Evening

11st 12lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Placed in his first two chases (on soft) and looked much more assured over the fences when drawing 19l clear at Doncaster (3m2f, good) in December to register his first win; not disgraced at Newcastle on latest outing but this is quite a rethink over his trip and he also has cheekpieces (tried on final start last term, pulled up) reinstated.

5/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 23-274 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Sole win came over hurdles at this track (2m3f) one year ago; switched to chasing and handicapping over about 3m for his three starts this term, running well for minor honours in two of them; chance on that and he drops back in trip in first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Storminhome

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Suffered a couple of heavy defeats after a long absence but then went very close to a first chase win in first-time blinkers at Southwell (3m, soft) last time, with the winner running well since; remains on a competitive mark and is one to consider if the headgear continues to have a positive effect.

7/4

2nd

2

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:45 Southwell

Storminhome

11st 13lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Well treated on best chase efforts; has suffered a couple of heavy defeats since returning from sizeable layoff but the fitting of blinkers may prompt a resurgence.

13/2

9th

5

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Storminhome

11st 3lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Tailed off at Chepstow three weeks ago after an absence and this 9yo needs to prove how much ability he retains; however, he's in top hands and is on a dangerous mark; not discounted with the step back up in trip a plus.

16/1

7/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 658-82 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Sole win (15 races) came in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster over this trip in November 2022 when wearing first-time cheekpieces; not so good since, including twice here, until beaten a head at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) last month in his second chase start; chance if that is repeated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

Okavango Delta

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Paul Robson

Absent since below-par run in December but returned from break with creditable second at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft; stays much further) in November and won when fresh last spring; has travelled from Northumberland for this race and Sean Bowen is booked; interesting.

3/1

5th

4

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Okavango Delta

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Did well for new yard last season with two wins at Musselburgh (good to soft/soft) and was back on the scoresheet at Worcester in May; absolute shocker at Warwick (also 2m4f, good) 29 days again, though, beaten 62l with no obvious excuses.

5/1

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

20:40 Warwick

Okavango Delta

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Did well for new yard last season with two wins at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and was back on the scoresheet at Worcester (2m4f, good) three weeks ago; did it well last time and a 4lb rise may not stop him.

10/11

8/1

Form: 23-316 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won chase debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) in October after five-month absence; needs to improve on that form but perhaps heavy ground was to blame at Uttoxeter nine weeks ago; needs a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

15:30 Huntingdon

Kankin

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Dual winner over fences including here (2m4f, good to soft); 5lb lower than when second of six over hurdles at Stratford (2m6f, good) in May, but well held in both subsequent outings; stable also runs Catalan King.

14/1

5th

9

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

15:30 Huntingdon

Kankin

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Dual winner over fences including here (2m4f, good to soft); 5lb lower than when second of six over hurdles at Stratford (2m6f, good) in May, but well held in both subsequent outings; stable also runs Catalan King.

14/1

Form: 532-42

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Sent chasing for new yard this term, back to his best when second of 12 in handicap here (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; should be on the premises off an unchanged mark, with potential too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

15:40 Fontwell

Maclaine

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Now only 1lb higher than for emphatic win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March 2024 but absent since a lesser effort the following October and entitled to benefit from this outing.

6/1

8

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

16:28 Exeter

Maclaine

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Richard J Bandey

Did not jump well enough when disappointing favourite at Ayr on final start last season but came good over fences with ready win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March and still has plenty of scope to progress from that performance.

4/1

7th

12

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Maclaine

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

On a career-high mark after going up 8lb for winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) but impressed with how he jumped and travelled that day (won easily); that was also a new trip for him, offering plenty of encouragement for this far.

8/1

Form: 36-6P3

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner who also scored on bumper debut for Dan Skelton; went right off the boil for that yard but staged a major revival when third of ten in handicap at Ludlow (2m4f, soft; her second chase, hooded first time) last month on first run for this trainer; needs to build on that run and to jump more fluently but it was a promising effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Fancy Stuff

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tom Gretton

2-13 over fences, latest off 1lb higher in June 2024 under Sean Bowen; form has been mixed since but she ran well for a long way at Chepstow on return from nearly four months off; on a fair mark if building on that.

4/1

5

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Fancy Stuff

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tom Gretton

2-13 over fences, latest off 1lb higher in June 2024 under Sean Bowen; form has been mixed since but she ran well for a long way at Chepstow on return from nearly four months off; on a fair mark if building on that.

4/1

Form: 5/17-P D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper and 2m3f maiden hurdle among his first three starts; his only two runs since have been heavy defeats when big odds at Cheltenham, the latest last month when he switched to fences and had his tongue tied on first run since wind surgery; easily the last exposed, including as it's his handicap debut, but he also has the most to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 0y

13:42 Thurles

Blue Hop

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a bumper and three hurdle races when trained in Britain; not as good in two handicap chase starts in 2024; seemed to lose confidence when badly hampered at the fourth in a novice chase at Tramore five weeks ago on Irish debut; could be competitive off this mark; might prefer better ground.

9/2

19th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Blue Hop

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: B F Brookhouse

Won his third hurdle race at Wetherby (2m5f) last time; has won over this trip but stays 3m too; is in form so has to be taken seriously.

11/1

19th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Blue Hop

11st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: B F Brookhouse

Won his third hurdle race at Wetherby (2m5f) last time; has won over this trip but stays 3m too; is in form so has to be taken seriously.

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0-313P D BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Kicked off this season with three good runs over fences, including a Wetherby win and C&D third, but needs to bounce back from a poor show when favourite on heavy going (has won on it before) at Haydock four weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Cerendipity

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Well treated on his best form, now 9lb lower than when winning at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) in March 2025, but he has been struggling, including with his jumping; cheekpieces off, tongue-strap on.

12/1

9th

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Cerendipity

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Has lacked fluency at times this season; otherwise an interesting type as he's on a very handy mark and this looks the time to catch him (gained last two wins in spring months).

9/1

5th

12

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Cerendipity

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Yet to score this term but he arrives in decent nick, scuppered by a bad error when sixth over C&D last month; possibilities off a 2lb lower mark.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.10
Straight Forecast £23.62
Tricast £234.00
Trifecta £231.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Storminhome

SPOTLIGHT:

Fancy Stuff

Daily Mirror:

Okavango Delta

Telegraph:

Blue Hop

TOPSPEED:

Snowy Evening

D Express:

Maclaine

WEST COUNTRY:

Storminhome

The Star:

Storminhome

The Times:

Fancy Stuff

The Sun:

Fancy Stuff

Daily Record:

Okavango Delta