December 15 / 12.30 Doncaster

12.30

Good To Soft

Howarth Timber & Building Supplies Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 3m 0f 84y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Howarth Timber & Building Supplies Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £3.30

Form: -2118P D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
He's well treated on chase form this May/June and perhaps he needed the run at Ludlow last month (pulled up); however, he has to leave that performance miles behind and all of his best efforts have come over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

15:37 Uttoxeter

Jaytee

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ian Williams

Won twice at Doncaster (3m, good/good to soft) during 2023-24 season but returned from long layoff with two disappointing runs this term, the latter in C&D race won by Saint Bibiana last month; others have much less to prove.

25/1

9

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

13:30 Uttoxeter

Jaytee

10st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ian Williams

In excellent form with varied headgear for most of the 2023-2024 season, but then had a long absence and he was tailed off on return four weeks ago; needs to be at his peak and some headgear (absent last time) returns.

12/1

5th

6

31st May 2025

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 3

19:30 Stratford

Jaytee

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ian Williams

In excellent form when last in action in January 2024, making all to win readily by over 7l at Doncaster (3m, good), but returns from long absence on a 7lb higher mark and with usual headgear missing.

6/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 264-31 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Beat only two rivals to get off the mark under rules at Southwell (3m, heavy) last month but he did it nicely and is unexposed over staying trips; remains on a competitive mark up 3lb and he's also effective on good/good to soft; could be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

22nd Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

16:47 Exeter

Stratton Oakmont

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Kayley Woollacott

Won this race two years ago; as good as ever (after a wind operation) when scoring by over 9l over C&D in November (good) but hasn't offered a great deal since, beaten 22l in staying handicaps at Doncaster and Ascot; others preferred.

14/1

11th

15

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Stratton Oakmont

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Kayley Woollacott

Showed the benefit of a wind op and looked as good as ever when scoring by over 9l on seasonal debut at Exeter (2m7f, good) in November; also suited by soft/heavy ground but disappointed when last in action and will probably find younger rivals better handicapped here.

14/1

4th

3

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:25 Southwell

Stratton Oakmont

11st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Weakened quickly and was pulled up on consecutive outings during the winter but looked back in much better nick when respectable sixth at Newbury (3m, good to soft) last month; another 2lb lower here; contender if able to build on that recent effort.

8/1

Form: 8/250-

Last run: 311 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Well beaten last winter on final two novice runs for Paul Nicholls, having previously made a promising hurdle debut at Taunton (2m3f, good); however, he returns having had wind surgery and interesting on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

1st Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Urban Soldier

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Came good over hurdles at sixth attempt, comfortably drawing 6l clear of gambled-on favourite at Southwell (3m, good; first-time cheekpieces) in April; 7lb higher here but could easily have a lot more to offer.

9/4

1st

3

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:50 Southwell

Urban Soldier

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Needs to bounce back from a tame effort on soft ground in February but made very encouraging seasonal/stable/handicap debut when third at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December and has possibilities here if aided by first-time cheekpieces.

6/1

1st

3

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:50 Southwell

Urban Soldier

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Needs to bounce back from a tame effort on soft ground in February but made very encouraging seasonal/stable/handicap debut when third at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December and has possibilities here if aided by first-time cheekpieces.

6/1

Form: 76-314 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Good-ground bumper winner who won at Kelso (3m2f, soft) in October on his second handicap start; ran in snatches when fair fourth at Kelso (3m2f, soft) last time and perhaps he'll be sharper now in cheekpieces; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Jem In Em

10st 6lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Bumper/hurdle winner who appreciated the return to this discipline when going down narrowly over nearly 3m at Hexham last month; this is a stronger race, however.

7/1

3rd

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Jem In Em

10st 6lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent

7/1

2nd

1

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Jem In Em

12st 0lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

jumped right on occasions, midfield

8/1

Form: -31313 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
His form dipped at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) three weeks ago but he was running well previously, posting wins at Newton Abbot (3m2f, heavy) and Wincanton (3m, good); no surprise if he bounces back with a big performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

14:00 Exeter

Ben Lilly

11st 4lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Should be well handicapped but he looks cold as ice at the minute and has the most to prove of these.

10/1

25/1

Form: 420-P5

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Went close over C&D (good) in February and is now 2lb lower; has struggled on his three starts since but the last two have been over fences and he's not a forlorn hope now back over hurdles.
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: 6222/

Last run: 605 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
5yo who was runner-up on final three French starts in 2021-22 (2m1f/2m2f, very soft); he's an interesting contender but makes his British debut after a long absence (has had wind op since last seen) and he's taking a sizeable step up in trip; others come with fewer risks attached.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Inedit De Mee

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

11-race maiden with six of those coming over fences; mark continues to slide and he has the odd bit of form that suggests he could be competitive, particularly if the tongue-tie/cheekpieces prove a positive addition.

10/1

3rd

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:48 Lingfield

Inedit De Mee

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Runner-up three times as a juvenile hurdler in France but, following a long absence, has not shown a great deal on his four British starts; the last three of those were over fences.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.80
Straight Forecast £25.94
Trifecta £103.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Stratton Oakmont

SPOTLIGHT:

Urban Soldier

RP RATINGS:

Jem In Em

Daily Mirror:

Ben Lilly

The Times:

Jem In Em

Telegraph:

Urban Soldier

Daily Mail:

Urban Soldier

The Star:

Urban Soldier

WEST COUNTRY:

Stratton Oakmont

The Guardian:

Stratton Oakmont

D Express:

Stratton Oakmont

The Sun:

Stratton Oakmont

Daily Record:

Stratton Oakmont