December 22 / 15.40 Ascot

15.40

Good To Soft

Thames Materials Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £14237.5
  • 1m 7f 152y
  • Class 1
  • 13 runners
SKY
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Thames Materials Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 1 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won with bundles in a hand in a big field on debut in a mares' bumper at Warwick last month (2m, soft; 7-2 favourite); now takes on males but there was lots to like about her win and she's from a top yard; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Let It Rain

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Dual bumper winner, also landing the odds in a mares' novice at Wetherby (2m) in November 2024; fine effort (third) on handicap debut at Ascot (2m) in December but she disappointed - unsuited by heavy ground - at Newbury (pulled up, 5-2 favourite) latest; still ample potential.

11/4

13

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Let It Rain

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Acts on soft ground; 2-2 in bumpers, including Listed honours, and has a solid record (213) since switched to hurdles; only about half a length behind Dance And Glance and All In You at Ascot (1m7f; handicap debut) in sole start this term; this Skelton mare is open to plenty of further improvement; major contender.

5/2

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 11 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner (yielding) who made it 2-2 in bumpers (both on soft) when winning a Listed race at Cheltenham last month; now carries a 4lb penalty against some very interesting rivals but has strong claims nevertheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:20 Naas

Brechin Castle

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Point winner for Colin Bowe three seasons ago; 2-3 in British bumpers for Ben Brookhouse in 2023 (both wins on soft) including a Listed race at Cheltenham; had a 4lb penalty when second at Ascot in December that year, 6 1/2l in front of Celtic Dino (now a 147-rated hurdler); potentially in a different league to these rivals if retaining that level of ability.

8/11

2nd

1

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 152y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Brechin Castle

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

Point winner (yielding) who made it 2-2 in bumpers (both on soft) when winning a Listed race at Cheltenham last month; now carries a 4lb penalty against some very interesting rivals but has strong claims nevertheless.

11/4

1st

3

19th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Brechin Castle

11st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

Recruited for £165,000 after justifying odds-on favouritism in an Irish maiden point (3m, yielding) and again he was odds-on when leaving two fellow southern raiders behind (the second also a point winner) to win on soft ground at Sedgefield four weeks ago; sets a good standard.

15/8

13/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sent off favourite when winning by about 4l on debut over C&D (soft); yard does well in bumpers and this useful prospect is on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:17 Chepstow

Celtic Dino

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

A very useful novice hurdler last season and ran big race when third of 17 on handicap debut at Aintree festival (2m, good) in April, having been badly hampered in early stages and made up considerable ground from the rear; 5lb higher here but still has more to offer.

15/8

3rd

4

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Celtic Dino

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds

15/2

3rd

4

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Celtic Dino

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds

15/2

Form: 61- D

Last run: 252 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big step forward when winning comfortably at Ballinrobe (1m7f, soft) in April on his second start, and he was sold out of Sam Curling's yard for 100,000euros later that month; it wasn't a great race he won but he brings potential to his British debut and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 152y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

I Wont Back Down

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

Big step forward when winning comfortably at Ballinrobe (1m7f, soft) in April on his second start, and he was sold out of Sam Curling's yard for 100,000euros later that month; it wasn't a great race he won but he brings potential to his British debut and is not ruled out.

12/1

1st

5

14th Apr 2023

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 137y

19:20 Ballinrobe

I Wont Back Down

11st 10lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: S Curling

Unplaced favourite on debut at Thurles; never looked like posing a serious threat in finishing sixth of 11 behind a useful-looking Henry de Bromhead-trained newcomer; should be better for the experience; Derek O'Connor sticks with him.

11/2

6th

6

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 2y

17:20 Thurles

I Wont Back Down

11st 10lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: S Curling

Second foal; dam German 1m1f winner, half-sister to Flat and jumps winner Arusha Park; in good hands.

8/1

Form: 6-4

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sixth on debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) and built on that when fourth to Celtic Dino over this C&D (soft) last month; however, he has about 7l to find with the winner and there are others to worry about, too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

U Cant Be Serious

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made an excellent start over fences when landing a pair of 2m3f handicap chases at Exeter before Christmas but his form has really dipped, only seventh at Newbury (2m7f) last month; cheekpieces are reached for now.

8/1

7th

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Joe Tizzard

Showed a willing attitude to kick off his chasing career with two 2m3f handicap wins at Exeter (good to soft) and his Kempton run off this mark on Boxing Day looked too bad to be true; however, even if back on song, others may have his measure.

9/1

3rd

1

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 69y

Class 4

13:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

12st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Handicap debutant; seemingly outstayed over 2m5f last time but may not be crying out for this drop back to 2m, having gained his Taunton win over 2m3f; testing ground would be a possible help, however.

11/4

Form: 2-2

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown substantial promise when runner-up at Newbury (2m, soft/good to soft) on both starts and should be winning sooner rather than later, but he's down the pecking order in this field in terms of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Im A Lumberjack

11st 6lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Alan King

Won twice over hurdles last term and has been placed in handicaps on his last two starts; is knocking on the door and has place claims at least.

10/1

3rd

2

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

14:25 Doncaster

Im A Lumberjack

11st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Maiden/novice hurdle winner (2m5f/2m3f, good to soft) who was runner-up at Newbury (2m4f, good) in December on his second handicap start; could continue to improve and he's one to consider.

7/4

1st

2

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

17:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Im A Lumberjack

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th, went second before 4 out, led before 2 out, shaken up and went clear approaching last, readily

9/4

Form: 1- D

Last run: 384 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Backed into 6-5 when winning with something to spare on debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last December; absent since (reportedly had a bad bout of colic in the spring); Harry Cobden rides yard's other runner and Olive Nicholls can't claim her usual 7lb, but no surprise to see a bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 3f 58y

Class 3

13:35 Ascot

Marvellous Mick

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won by just over 3l on his bumper debut at Chepstow (good to soft) and again ran to a fair level when mid-division in a Listed bumper here in December; needs to rebound from a disappointing hurdling debut back at Chepstow but he did go off odds-on and didn't appear to handle the heavy ground; remains promising; cheekpieces added.

5/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beat males when making a winning debut at 12-1 at Hereford (2m, good) in October; open to improvement but it was a tight finish last time and others arrive with stronger form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 3

14:20 Market Rasen

Future Fortune

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Winning bumper debut at Hereford (2m) in October 2023; failed to stay 2m4f on hurdles debut at Huntingdon in November but more like it when runner-up over 2m at Taunton (good to soft) latest; needs more again.

100/30

2nd

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:30 Taunton

Future Fortune

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Warren Greatrex

towards rear

6/1

2nd

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:30 Taunton

Future Fortune

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Warren Greatrex

towards rear

6/1

Form: 305

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point runner-up who has shown some ability in bumpers, but nothing like enough to suggest he'll make an impact in this hot race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Uttoxeter

Minella Miracle

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Went close in the last of his three Irish points; 0-7 under rules but he's been placed a couple of times including in a maiden hurdle (2m, good) in May; returns after 128 days off but yard is in good form and he needs watching in market on handicap/chase debut.

10/1

4

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Uttoxeter

Minella Miracle

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Went close in the last of his three Irish points; 0-7 under rules but he's been placed a couple of times including in a maiden hurdle (2m, good) in May; returns after 128 days off but yard is in good form and he needs watching in market on handicap/chase debut.

10/1

6th

2

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:28 Worcester

Minella Miracle

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Placed on stable/hurdle debut at Stratford (2m, good) in May but that form isn't anything to get too excited about, and he was disappointing when well-held fourth over 2m2f there last time; tongue-tie refitted.

12/1

25/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2-2 having won small-field bumpers towards the start of the season (both 2m, good); had something in hand each time and it's hard to knock an unbeaten contender, but others have greater substance to their form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

16th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 9lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner and looks capable of winning on the Flat, coming from further back than the winner when second over 1m4f here in April; should be sharper for a recent comeback run at Newcastle and enters calculations.

8/1

1

(14)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner and looks capable of winning on the Flat; came from further back than the winner when second at Southwell in April (1m4f); can go well fresh.

10/1

2nd

3

(13)

30th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

18:10 Southwell (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 8lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner; close fourth over C&D in December but four lesser runs have followed, the latest in first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

9/1

Form: 1

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has a useful pedigree and he attracted market support when winning on his debut at Exeter (2m, good to soft) last month; he came clear with the runner-up and that could prove to be a useful race; he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Warwick

Dunskay

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

2-3 in bumpers; well held in two of his three hurdle races last term but his third here (2m, good) in March wasn't a bad effort and he's now switched to fences for this seasonal/handicap debut; warrants respect, with pedigree suggesting he can do better in this sphere; tongue-tie added.

4/1

3rd

1

27th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:05 Southwell

Dunskay

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

took keen hold, led, headed but prominent 2nd, not fluent and dropped to midfield 4th, weakened from 3 out

15/8

OUR TIP

Form: 1 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, good) in April and also did it comfortably, despite drifting left in the final furlong, when 5-4 favourite on bumper debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) in October; looks the chief hope for trainer who has won the last two runnings; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in the opening novice hurdle on this card 12 months ago; looked unlucky not to win over C&D at Christmas when failing only narrowly to get up (on good); quite likely that he was unsuited by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite on his return visit and a physical issue also came to light; with this drying ground in his favour, he's right in the mix with cheekpieces added.

15/8

6th

9

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

10st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Point/bumper winner who didn't hang about over hurdles; disappointing chase debut here in November but looked unlucky not to win over 2m6f here (good; effective on soft) over Christmas when a late rally narrowly failed; the winner of that race is unexposed; big player off just 3lb higher.

9/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£31,000 3yo; sixth foal; brother to French 1m 2yo winner Comme J Aime, half-brother to French winners Minuty (6f 2yo) and New Hero (1m4f/1m5f AW); dam fourth in 1m2f Group 1; market check advised but he's being thrown in at the deep end on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

15th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Windsor

Willoughby Cleeve

11st 7lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

held up in rear

33/1

9

15th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Windsor

Willoughby Cleeve

11st 7lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

held up in rear

33/1

Non-runners

Ami Bondhu, Horaces Pearl

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.40
Straight Forecast £27.17
Trifecta £184.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Bellamy

The Times:

Let It Rain

RP RATINGS:

Dunskay

D Express:

Celtic Dino

LAMBOURN:

Future Fortune

The Sun:

Brechin Castle

TOPSPEED:

Dunskay

Telegraph:

Dunskay

The Guardian:

Let It Rain

Daily Mirror:

Let It Rain

Daily Record:

Let It Rain

POSTDATA:

Captain Bellamy

WEST COUNTRY:

Captain Bellamy

Daily Mail:

Captain Bellamy

The Star:

Captain Bellamy