January 22 / 12.30 Lingfield

12.30

Heavy

Winter Million Ballykelly Consulting Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 3f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Winter Million Ballykelly Consulting Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 2-101P D

Last run: 8 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
The winner of small-field events on good ground at Fakenham (2m4f maiden) and Doncaster (2m3f handicap); 20-1 for last week's Lanzarote at Kempton (soft) and was essentially knocked out of the race by some early interference; whether heavy ground will appeal to him remains to be seen.
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: 1-1611

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who was 2-2 in bumpers and is going the right way over hurdles after odds-on wins in non-handicaps at Leicester (1m7f, soft) and Plumpton (2m4f, soft); posted a smart RPR of 125 last time and that suggests this mark should be manageable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Twinjets

12st 0lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner; won two in a row last autumn (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft) and back to form when second under Jay Tidball at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last month; effective on soft earlier in career; can make another bold bid.

15/2

2nd

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Twinjets

12st 2lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Two wins from the front, including a defeat of Heltenham over C&D, and two non-completions comprise a mixed current campaign; hindered by being unable to dominate in the Greatwood Gold Cup last time; chance may depend on whether he gets an easy lead.

13/2

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Twinjets

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-running chaser who made a bad mistake and unseated rider mid-race when favourite for similar event at Cheltenham last time; successful in both completed starts this term, looking better than ever, including a C&D performance (good to soft; beat Heltenham by 10l) that suggests he's an ideal candidate for this prize; respected.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 350-22 D BF

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Five runs for Venetia Williams since arriving from France and has had two wind operations; has returned from the latest procedure with two front-running seconds in handicap (2m3f, soft) and novice company (1m7f, good to soft) and has races in him off this mark; handles heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

14:35 Plumpton

Georges Saint

11st 11lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Mudlover who has won four times over fences and he's run creditably at Warwick (3m, good to soft) and over C&D (soft) in last two starts; finished behind Lumi Plugin last time but he should give it another good shot and any rain would be a bonus.

9/4

3rd

3

26th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Georges Saint

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Mudlover who was out of sorts in just three runs last winter but ran well for a long way in a better race than this at Bangor (3m, soft) in April and kept on gamely when third at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month; this more testing ground will suit better; solid claims.

2/1

Form: 242

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Signs of inexperience in all his runs but he kept at it to finish runner-up in a 2m Chepstow novice the last time (good to soft) and he should improve for this stiffer stamina test provided by a longer trip and deeper ground; respected on his handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Equinus

10st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

raced lazily at times, always behind

100/1

11

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:25 Kempton

Equinus

10st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Two wins over hurdles for previous yard; early faller at Aintree in November switched to fences for new stable and is best watched in this warm race.

40/1

11

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:25 Kempton

Equinus

10st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

never going well, always behind, pulled up after 4 out

40/1

Form: 7-741 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Much improved form when getting up late in the day to deny Heaven Smart in a C&D maiden on heavy ground a month ago; probably needs another step forward but the tongue-tie may help and his ability to handle these conditions will count for plenty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

No Tackle

10st 11lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won in a refitted visor at Lingfield (2m6f) in November and runner-up on next three outings, which represents career-best form; still on a fair mark and drying ground won't bother him at all.

9/2

2nd

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

No Tackle

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Two-time course winner, the latest here (2m6f, soft) last February, and got back on the scoresheet at Lingfield (2m6f, good) in November; runner-up on both starts since (2m6f, good to soft; here last time); solid candidate.

7/4

Form: 292

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Jumped poorly when a beaten favourite on his penultimate run but that part of his game was better when narrowly denied by a strong-finishing No Tackle here a month ago; likely contender on his handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Heaven Smart

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

In good form over fences in the autumn, bar a blip at Perth in October; 0-11 over hurdles but twice finished second in this sphere and often runs well after a break; entitled to respect.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Perth

Heaven Smart

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Showed the benefit of a wind op when dominating from the front here (2m4f, good) last month, his second start for Laura Morgan, and ran big race in defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4f, good) a few days later; effectively another 5lb higher today but sure to be suited by the move back up in trip; good chance.

7/4

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Heaven Smart

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.

9/4

Abandoned

Form: 7P-337

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Two creditable runs in novice hurdles here and at Sandown (2m on soft) before running better than his final placing suggests in a 2m4f handicap at Huntingdon (good to soft), where he lost all hope with a bad mistake three out; placed in a bumper on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Godot

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Andy Irvine

Didn't run badly when fifth of seven here (2m5f, good to soft; usual headgear removed) 12 days ago and has become well handicapped but this season has been largely disappointing and he's not yet proven over this far.

16/1

5th

1

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Godot

12st 0lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Andy Irvine

Three-time winner but arrives here in no sort of form and the new blinkers (replacing usual cheekpieces) did nothing for him two weeks ago; now goes in no headgear; risky.

12/1

5th

1

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Godot

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Andy Irvine

Always tended to be all or nothing but has often run well on soft; risks involved now, having been pulled up on his last two starts, but he's capable of popping up, switched from cheekpieces to first-time blinkers under in-form Rian Corcoran.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 11433

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Has won an Irish point, Newton Abbot bumper and a three-runner novice hurdle at Newbury; has performed okay in his two handicaps (2m; good to soft/heavy) without looking ahead of his mark; perhaps vulnerable once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:54 Newton Abbot

Lock Out

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Inconsistent last season and absent since tame effort in March but won when fresh a year ago, at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft), and begins his new campaign from a good mark.

3/1

5th

3

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:55 Chepstow

Lock Out

11st 6lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

midfield

11/2

2nd

2

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

14:20 Wincanton

Lock Out

11st 13lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

in touch with leaders, lost position 6th

3/1

Verdict

An open race may go to TWINJETS. His only defeat to date came when failing to give his true running in a Cheltenham maiden and he might not be overburdened for his first handicap. Georges Saint rates a solid alternative on ground we know he handles, while Equinus is also of interest now granted a stiffer test of stamina.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Twinjets

POSTDATA:

Rathmacknee

D Express:

Lock Out

TOPSPEED:

Godot

RP Ratings:

Twinjets

The Times:

Twinjets

Telegraph:

Twinjets

Daily Mirror:

Twinjets

The Sun:

Twinjets

The Star:

Twinjets

Daily Record:

Twinjets

LAMBOURN:

Rathmacknee