January 27 / 14.05 Doncaster

14.05

Good

Sky Bet EBF “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6001.48
  • 2m 3f 88y
  • Class 3
  • 13 runners
SKY
View Course
Sky Bet EBF “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/4 (Won)

Form: 23

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner with some high-profile entries to his name and his latest close third over 2m5f here can be upgraded given how freely he raced; this better ground (good to soft last time) may also benefit; interesting.
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

Form: 13-642

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who ran his best race yet over hurdles when boxing on for second over 2m at Hereford (soft) a month ago; that form is up there in this company and returning to further looks the right move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

11th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Gaelic Park

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Lost his way over hurdles and fences after winning a Warwick maiden hurdle in March 2023 for Charlie Longsdon; has yet to produce an effort of note in this discipline (0-3) but on a good mark if new connections can get him back on track; tries a tongue-tie.

4/1

Form: 45

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Respectable efforts without genuinely threatening in maidens at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) and Ludlow (2m5f, soft); probably no more than place claims unless finding some improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

2nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 31y

Class 5

16:15 Doncaster

Gentle Frank

11st 13lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Point runner-up who won a novice hurdle here (2m3f, good) in March 2023; however, he struggled on his two chase starts in late 2023 and it's been the same story over hurdles this winter, following an absence.

14/1

7

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:03 Hereford

Gentle Frank

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Well beaten in two chases in his only races last season and no show when he reverted to hurdling last month after a 406-day absence; hard to latch on to unless he's been strong in the market.

25/1

5

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Gentle Frank

11st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

always behind

20/1

100/1

Form: 43

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer but he's finished tailed off in two maiden hurdles (2m7f/3m1f; good) and can be readily opposed once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

14:32 Newcastle

Lepashe

11st 1lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Sam Allwood

prominent on outer, jumped slightly right 3rd, in touch with leaders 5th

4/1

3rd

3

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

14:32 Newcastle

Lepashe

11st 1lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Sam Allwood

prominent on outer, jumped slightly right 3rd, in touch with leaders 5th

4/1

6th

7

15th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

12:23 Southwell

Lepashe

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Sam Allwood

Continues to operate some way below the level of early 2023's peak Doncaster hurdles form, placing but still beaten 23l on last month's return to chasing (3m); down another 2lb but not as persuasive as most.

7/1

Form: 04-

Last run: 308 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Just minor promise in a couple of bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies and one to watch now hurdling for his new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Uttoxeter

Jumping Jupiter

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Has the form to feature but he's pulled up the last twice and connections reach for another change of headgear.

25/1

2

6th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:00 Market Rasen

Jumping Jupiter

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Mark Walford

1-11 over hurdles; returned from break with two very respectable fourths at end of last season (2m1f/2m3f, good) but has a point to prove after lacklustre performance at Southwell in May.

8/1

5

12th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Jumping Jupiter

11st 2lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

in touch with leaders, dropped to rear 6th, not fluent and reminders 7th, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

9/2

Form: 04

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
British point winner at the third attempt; tailed off in his two runs over hurdles, at 2m5f and 3m1f; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:52 Ffos Las

Benny Baloo

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has won over fences but two disappointing runs after an absence included a heavy defeat behind Esperti and his struggles continued back over hurdles here last month; has dropped to a good mark but with questions to answer now.

33/1

7

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:35 Ffos Las

Benny Baloo

10st 13lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Well beaten on stable debut in September but that came after a long absence and he's well handicapped on old form for Tim Easterby; gained both wins on good to soft ground but can handle soft; market may guide.

12/1

5th

4

19th Sep 2025

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:55 Newton Abbot

Benny Baloo

11st 5lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won over fences at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) for Tim Easterby on Boxing Day 2023 and was still in good form when last seen in spring 2024; changed hands for £9,000 last summer; entitled to benefit from this outing.

16/1

Form: 480

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well held in her three bumpers and likely to be outclassed in a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

13

11th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Huntingdon

Elsieanne

10st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

In rear on all three hurdles starts so far, beaten 42l plus, and not obviously bred to fare better upped to a stayer's trip; handicap bow.

20/1

7th

7

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Taunton

Elsieanne

10st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

No impact in her three bumpers and well beaten at massive odds on her first two hurdle starts.

100/1

9th

16

20th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

13:30 Lingfield

Elsieanne

10st 13lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Well held in three bumpers and was tailed off at a massive price on hurdling debut at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last month.

100/1

Form: 6- BF

Last run: 392 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Disputing the lead when final-fence faller in Irish point, then was sold for £90,000; heavy ground was a possible excuse for his flop (well-beaten favourite) on rules debut more than a year ago; given the absence, a watching brief seems best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

19th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

13:20 Wincanton

Lindaka

11st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ian Williams

took keen hold, midfield, struggling after 6th

100/1

5th

4

25th Nov 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

13:38 Huntingdon

Lindaka

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

in touch with leaders, dropped to rear before 8th, lost touch 3 out, no impression from 2 out, tailed off

50/1

7

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

13:00 Uttoxeter

Lindaka

11st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Ian Williams

Disputing lead when final-fence faller on Irish point debut in 2021 but very disappointing favourite in a bumper last season and again well beaten when switched to hurdling last month (2m3f); upped in trip with cheekpieces added.

40/1

Form: 1P4-5P

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner who is capable of better than he's shown so far over hurdles, but it's worrying that he's reportedly bled the last twice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

19th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Call Me Harry

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

raced in last

16/1

13

19th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Call Me Harry

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

raced in last

16/1

4

5th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

18:10 Musselburgh

Call Me Harry

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Runs this track well and when behind a couple of these here last time he was let down by his jumping; respected.

7/1

Form: 6-24

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Ascot maiden (2m3f, good to soft) and some sloppy late jumping was no help when outpaced over C&D (good) a month ago; open to further progress for his top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

25th Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:55 Warwick

Hands Off

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

took keen hold, held up in last, good jump 6th, headway 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, went second before 2 out, lost second last, no extra run-in

8/11

3

7th Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 173y

Class 4

16:10 Sandown

Hands Off

11st 12lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Holding every chance when veering right and running out at the third-last flight in a Doncaster maiden last time but his runs before that were promising; could be on a decent mark if more on the ball this afternoon.

15/2

6

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

13:22 Chepstow

Hands Off

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

OUR TIP

Form: 3

Last run: 94 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £75,000 after narrowly winning an Irish point last May; easy to back at 22-1 on his hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) but he ran well from the front before weakening late on; had wind surgery in the meantime and entered in the Ballymore at Cheltenham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

29th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 3

13:05 Doncaster

Richhill

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Point/hurdle winner who built upon his chase debut fifth when third of six at Newbury (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago in a race that is working out well; in top hands and could take another step forward today, provided conditions suit (unraced on soft/heavy).

6/1

3rd

5

1st Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

12:40 Newbury

Richhill

10st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Point/hurdle winner; weakened into well-held fifth at Kempton (2m4f, good) on chase/seasonal debut but may do better with that outing under his belt and dropped back in trip (worth another go at 2m).

10/1

Form: 4-23

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has posted the same RPR of 105 in all his runs, two bumpers and a 2m3f novice hurdle at Taunton; will need to raise his game to beat some of these but that's feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:18 Southwell

Spago

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Low-mileage 7yo who launched chasing career with two very encouraging runs in the autumn, the latter a close third at Leicester (2m6f, good to soft); absent since but still considered.

3/1

1

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:18 Southwell

Spago

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Low-mileage 7yo who launched chasing career with two very encouraging runs in the autumn, the latter a close third at Leicester (2m6f, good to soft); absent since but still considered.

3/1

3rd

7

20th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Leicester

Spago

11st 3lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Showed promise in a light campaign over hurdles last season and he stuck to his task well when an encouraging fourth on his chasing debut at Kempton (2m2f) 29 days ago; this longer trip promises to suit so he's a player.

11/4

Form: 55-70

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Low-level form so far, including when tailed off at Catterick on Wednesday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

28th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Syltezar

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

Ordinary efforts so far, including in handicaps over this trip on last two starts; improvement needed.

20/1

4th

3

29th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:10 Newcastle

Syltezar

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Has displayed glimpses of ability (on various ground) but she was pulled up at 28-1 on her handicap debut at Ayr (2m4f, good) three weeks ago and has to leave that form miles behind.

14/1

8

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

14:35 Ayr

Syltezar

11st 2lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Ewan Whillans

Not solid judged on her form in novice hurdles, modest fourth of six at Kelso (2m) most recently; needs to improve for the switch to handicap level.

16/1

Non-runners

Richhill, Spago, Syltezar

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £5.21

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Storminhome

RP Ratings:

Gaelic Park

LAMBOURN:

Hands Off

The Sun:

Hands Off

POSTDATA:

Storminhome

The Times:

Storminhome

Daily Mirror:

Storminhome

The Star:

Storminhome

Daily Record:

Storminhome

TOPSPEED:

Gaelic Park

Telegraph:

Gaelic Park

The Guardian:

Gaelic Park

Daily Mail:

Gaelic Park

D Express:

Gaelic Park