December 26 / 13.07 Fontwell

13.07

Soft

Win £2,000,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
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Win £2,000,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: UP-314 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Signed off in France with slow-ground handicap win (2m2f) in May; just a respectable fourth on last month's British debut at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) but even that form makes him a big player here and there's a good chance he can do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

The Good Doctor

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Potentially well handicapped but he's 0-7 over fences and has been well below his best the last twice, on good ground (tried a visor) and soft (no headgear); did win in a tongue-tie when trained in France and that aid belatedly returns; couldn't rule out.

8/1

5th

4

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:05 Warwick

The Good Doctor

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Made it 0-6 over fences when tailed off in first-time visor at Leicester in December; however, the headgear is left off today and he's on a competitive mark on his best chase form; won on testing ground in France; could be thereabouts if bouncing back to form.

11/2

4th

1

28th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 4

15:23 Newbury

The Good Doctor

12st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Two hurdle wins and better form when second over fences in December in 2m handicaps at Warwick and Newbury, both on good to soft; short-headed in the latter but flopped when favourite at Hereford (upped to 2m5f) six weeks ago, when having three runs in just over a month was blamed; stamina to prove beyond 2m2f, even if he's back to form; yard is going strongly.

15/8

Form: 3-03

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on hurdling debut in October but fared considerably better and belied triple-digit odds when third of ten at Kempton (2m, good to soft) last month, weakening out of contention only after the final flight; holds each-way claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Thank You Maam

12st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Georgina Nicholls

Returned from layoff with three below-par chase/hurdle runs in February/March but, having swapped cheekpieces for blinkers, fared much better on last two appearances; lost out only by a nose after making most of the running at Warwick (3m1f, good) last time; can make another bold bid.

5/1

2nd

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 3

14:30 Warwick

Thank You Maam

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Back hurdling the last twice after a brief stint over fences; the first time he'd worn these aids combined when a front-running third at Wetherby (3m, good; beaten 4.25l); exposed but firmly in the mix.

5/1

3rd

2

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Thank You Maam

11st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Not solid on his chase/hurdles form this year; previously a consistent sort in this sphere and has a fighting chance off current mark back down in grade, provided he's resurgent.

7/1

6/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 25- BF

Last run: 371 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made promising rules debut when close second at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) in November 2022; off since lesser effort over that C&D the following month but will play a leading role if he hits the ground running here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

15:40 Fontwell

Tea And Chats

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

in touch with leaders

14/1

4th

3

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 5

13:03 Wincanton

Tea And Chats

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

always behind

8/1

6th

8

21st Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:22 Wincanton

Tea And Chats

11st 9lb

J: Sgt Nathan Rahman

T: Chris Gordon

Twice placed over hurdles but needs to get back on song as he was disappointing on his chase debut before finishing a remote second back hurdling in a Fontwell maiden; good ground is an unknown.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to fair hurdler/chaser You Say Nothing; placed in two of his three Irish points in 2022 but makes rules debut after 13-month absence and is probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

Form: 3

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to smart chaser Eclair Surf; placed in two Irish points in the spring and also in Market Rasen bumper (good to soft) on last month's rules debut; ought to make his presence felt on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Just One Surf

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Low-mileage 5yo who won a maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March; absent since pulled up on chasing debut in May (2m3f) but could still have a good future over fences and is unexposed over this sort of trip.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on the Flat at up to 2m, albeit winning just once from eight starts; unraced on ground slower than good but Michael Bell tends to be very selective when it comes to running his horses over hurdles; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:17 Chepstow

Balhambar

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Did well for new stable in 2024, winning twice, and runner-up in valuable Southwell handicap (2m, good) on New Year's Day; reverts to hurdling after a pipe-opener on the Flat last month; probably needs to squeeze out even more improvement to land this prize.

12/1

7th

6

(5)

11th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:18 Epsom

Balhambar

11st 1lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Progressive since joining this yard and switched to hurdles, mainly under Paul O'Brien, while his sole Flat run for Harry Derham was a respectable third of 11 at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; market may help on this first start since March but stable's horses don't tend to lack for fitness; should go well.

9/2

2nd

1

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Balhambar

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, not fluent 3rd, headed just before last, weakened run-in

4/1

Form: 386

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to stable's very useful chaser Le Milos; stayed on for third in Ludlow bumper (good to soft) in May but returned with a lesser effort there last month and never on terms when 100-1 for recent hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th Sep 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Warwick

Chatty Chich

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won handicaps at Huntingdon (3m1f, good) and Fakenham (2m7f, good) before getting found out by the drop back to 2m4f at Worcester (still ran well); softening ground would be a cause for concern.

11/4

3rd

3

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Chatty Chich

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, headway 4 out, outpaced 3 out

11/4

1

2nd Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

14:35 Fakenham

Chatty Chich

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has improved since stepping up in trip and going handicapping, getting off the mark in a mares' race at Huntingdon last time (3m1f, good) having finished runner-up in a C&D handicap (good; form worked out well) the time before; up 6lb; strong chance.

10/11

Form: 90

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat in France in April 2022 but struggled on both British hurdling starts this autumn (2m/1m7f) and needs a transformation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:02 Wincanton

Loverdose

11st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Disappointed at Newbury in late November but that was his first blip in handicaps, having previously posted form figures of 1121122 (from 2m to 2m4f; unraced over further); has got himself high in the weights but if back on song he'd have each-way claims if staying the trip.

14/1

2nd

12

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

16:15 Newbury

Loverdose

11st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

prominent

7/2

Form: 3-46

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in heavy-ground Cork bumper in March but hasn't shown a great deal in two novice hurdles here this season (2m1f/2m3f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

5th Jun 2024

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:10 Newton Abbot

Step It Out Goldie

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Placed in heavy-ground Cork bumper in March 2023; failed to show much in three novice hurdles (2m1f-2m3f) or a 3m handicap (12-1) so has serious work to do in the first-time headgear from 4lb out of the handicap.

25/1

11th

12

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Step It Out Goldie

10st 8lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Placed in heavy-ground Cork bumper in March of last year; hasn't shown much at all in three novice hurdles (2m1f-2m3f) for current yard but she's up in trip for handicap debut and with stamina in the pedigree.

8/1

11th

12

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Step It Out Goldie

10st 8lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Placed in heavy-ground Cork bumper in March of last year; hasn't shown much at all in three novice hurdles (2m1f-2m3f) for current yard but she's up in trip for handicap debut and with stamina in the pedigree.

8/1

Form: P

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won twice on the Flat when trained in Poland but, following a long absence, struggled when 200-1 for last month's stable/hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:33 Uttoxeter

Barbarosa

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Won basement-grade AW contest in February (1m2f, AW; RPR 56) but struggled when back over hurdles in May and can't be recommended here.

100/1

10th

1

21st May 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

18:40 Huntingdon

Barbarosa

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Won basement-grade AW contest for Clare Hobson in February (1m2f, AW; RPR 56) but struggled on both hurdling attempts last season; now back in the care of his owner-trainer.

66/1

10th

1

21st May 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

18:40 Huntingdon

Barbarosa

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Won basement-grade AW contest for Clare Hobson in February (1m2f, AW; RPR 56) but struggled on both hurdling attempts last season; now back in the care of his owner-trainer.

66/1

Form: 7-0

Last run: 229 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two bumpers for Warren Greatrex in the spring; now with new stable for hurdling career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:50 Plumpton

Dreadpoetssociety

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Looked beaten when falling on chasing debut in July but ran quite well when fourth over hurdles at Fontwell (2m3f, good) two starts ago and remains lightly raced; could have a say, even from 3lb out of the weights.

14/1

13

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Worcester

Dreadpoetssociety

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Unexposed 6yo; well beaten on handicap debut in May but last month's fourth at Fontwell (2m3f, good) was much more encouraging, and further progress is possible on this chasing debut; 3lb wrong.

14/1

4th

7

12th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

17:18 Fontwell

Dreadpoetssociety

10st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Showed only glimmers of promise in three novice/maiden hurdles (2m-2m1f) during the winter and finished a well-held seventh of 12 on last month's handicap debut here (2m5f, good); down 4lb and back in trip but hard to warm to.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.30
Straight Forecast £14.60
Trifecta £50.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Good Doctor

RP RATINGS:

Tea And Chats

LAMBOURN:

Just One Surf

Telegraph:

Thank You Ma'am

POSTDATA:

The Good Doctor

WEST COUNTRY:

The Good Doctor

The Times:

The Good Doctor

Daily Mirror:

The Good Doctor

The Sun:

The Good Doctor

The Star:

The Good Doctor

D Express:

Just One Surf

TOPSPEED:

Tea And Chats

The Guardian:

Tea And Chats

Daily Mail:

Tea And Chats

Daily Record:

Tea And Chats