January 23 / 13.45 Doncaster

13.45

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 0f 128y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
SKY
View Course
Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.40
  • Place: £1.50

Form: F51 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat performer who got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt at Wetherby (2m, soft) four weeks ago; he's open to further improvement in this code and could have a big part to play under a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(10)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Minstrel Knight

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Ran creditably for minor honours in two (1m5f/2m2f) of his four starts in last year's Flat campaign and won novice hurdles in December and January when last seen; however, although he won on good ground two years ago, his record since has been dominated by achievements on softer.

10/1

1st

3

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Minstrel Knight

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Edward Bethell

Useful Flat performer who got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt at Wetherby (2m, soft) four weeks ago; he's open to further improvement in this code and could have a big part to play under a penalty.

7/1

28

(33)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 170y

16:22 Curragh

Minstrel Knight

8st 11lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Edward Bethell

English raider has won three of his 10 starts on turf; best recent form has come on testing ground; beaten 2.25 off this mark in a class 4 handicap at Musselburgh latest (2m2f, gd-sft); needs the heavens to open.

22/1

66/1

  • Place: £5.10

Form: U74

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
4yo who was progressive at an ordinary level on the Flat in autumn; took a step forward when fourth at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month on third hurdle start but beaten 18l and needs another chunk of improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

13:32 Sedgefield

Division Day

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Brian Ellison

Dual 1m6f Flat winner; made inauspicious start to hurdling career but seemed very much to be getting his act together when keeping on to snatch second at Doncaster (2m, soft) 12 days ago, and promises to be suited by today's step up in trip; leading contender.

7/4

2nd

13

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Division Day

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Brian Ellison

4yo who was progressive at an ordinary level on the Flat in autumn; took a step forward when fourth at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month on third hurdle start but beaten 18l and needs another chunk of improvement.

66/1

2nd

7

(4)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Redcar

Division Day

8st 6lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Brian Ellison

3yo who's had seven races, coming good with a C&D win (upped from 1m2f) on good ground last month and following up by a short head in another five-runner contest at Southwell (1m6f, AW; rallied well) 11 days later; raised another 1lb; may well have more to offer at 1m6f+.

4/1

Form: 3211 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper at Wexford (2m, yielding) in October on final run for John Nallen and followed up on his hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month, defying a final-flight stumble; strong claims under penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Minella Jury

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Irish bumper winner (yielding) who followed up on hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) in December, and he was disputing the lead and clear of the rest when falling at the final flight on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) last time; the winner has followed up off 6lb higher so a 4lb rise for this fellow may well prove lenient; every chance he'll stay.

11/2

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

Minella Jury

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Irish bumper winner (2m, yielding) who followed up on his hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) in December and again ran well when third over this C&D (soft) last month; he's had wind surgery ahead of today's handicap debut and this unexposed 6yo could have a part to play.

11/2

3rd

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Minella Jury

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Won a bumper at Wexford (2m, yielding) in October on final run for John Nallen and followed up on his hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month, defying a final-flight stumble; strong claims under penalty.

9/2

Form: 90-232 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner (2m, good to soft) who tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last month on his third hurdle start, coming clear with the winner; unproven on soft ground; leading claims if backing up that latest performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

14

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Legal Weapon

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ben Pauling

Reasonably consistent but is 0-5 over hurdles, finishing fourth to Wilstar at Warwick most recently; chance of finding the necessary progress largely depends on the effects of first-time tongue-tie.

33/1

4th

5

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Warwick

Legal Weapon

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Gained his bumper success at Warwick; consistent elsewhere since switched to hurdles, making the frame each time; ran particularly well at Newbury (2m, good to soft) on penultimate start; solid chance back here.

7/2

4th

8

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Legal Weapon

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Bumper winner (2m, good to soft) who tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last month on his third hurdle start, coming clear with the winner; unproven on soft ground; leading claims if backing up that latest performance.

9/4

Form: 6

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Talented on the Flat and open to improvement on second hurdle start; however, he was about 14l behind Minstrel Knight when sixth at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month and may be of greater interest when back in headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

8

(12)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:55 York

Chillingham

9st 2lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Promoted to first in 1m4f handicap here (good to firm) last June and he races off 2lb lower today; however, he wasn't at his best last year on his final few runs for Edward Bethell, and failed to threaten over hurdles in the winter on his first two starts for this yard; may be best watched.

50/1

5th

4

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Chillingham

11st 2lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Micky Hammond

Talented on the Flat and open to improvement on second hurdle start; however, he was about 14l behind Minstrel Knight when sixth at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month and may be of greater interest when back in headgear.

16/1

Form: 03

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful, four-time Flat winner who made eyecatching late headway into third at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month on his second hurdle start, beaten about 6l by Minstrel Knight who now carries a 6lb penalty; open to further improvement in this code and he's one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

14:58 Sedgefield

Liberty Coach

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful Flat racer who kept on for third over hurdles at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December; well beaten twice since but had excuses last time (heavy ground; finished lame) and will be dangerous here if back on song; cheekpieces left off this time.

7/2

6

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Liberty Coach

11st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two heavy defeats among his three hurdle starts but in between he caught the eye keeping on for third at Wetherby (2m, soft); has potential off opening jumps mark in view of his useful Flat form, and his four wins in that code came in cheekpieces which he wears over hurdles for the first time.

9/2

6th

9

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Liberty Coach

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful, four-time Flat winner who made eyecatching late headway into third at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month on his second hurdle start, beaten about 6l by Minstrel Knight who now carries a 6lb penalty; open to further improvement in this code and he's one to be interested in.

8/1

Form: 4-50

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some ability in bumper/hurdle debut but not enough to suggest she'll pose a serious threat, and she was well beaten last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ffos Las

Neeps And Tatties

11st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Richard Phillips

Low-mileage 7yo who took a step forward when second of six in C&D handicap last month; she can go well again nudged up 1lb.

4/1

2nd

5

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ffos Las

Neeps And Tatties

10st 12lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Phillips

Low-mileage 7yo who made quite encouraging handicap debut when fourth at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) last month; didn't build on that effort at Hereford (2m3f, good) nine days ago but a mid-race jumping error seemed to knock her out of her rhythm there, and she remains open to improvement over this sort of trip now she's back on slower ground.

8/1

7th

4

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:25 Hereford

Neeps And Tatties

11st 3lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Phillips

Made quite an encouraging start to her handicap career when fourth of nine over 2m at Huntingdon (heavy) 16 days ago; player if she can build on that but she does tend to race keenly so could do with settling a bit better now stepping up in trip.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2/1 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 8

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 23

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Irandando Has, Desertmore News, Lasko Des Obeaux, Prince Of Clova, Final Escape

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £110.40
Straight Forecast £91.68
Trifecta £425.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Legal Weapon

POSTDATA:

Minella Jury

LAMBOURN:

Lasko Des Obeaux

The Times:

Minstrel Knight

D Express:

Minella Jury

Daily Mirror:

Minella Jury

The Sun:

Minella Jury

Daily Mail:

Lasko Des Obeaux

The Star:

Lasko Des Obeaux

RP RATINGS:

Legal Weapon

Telegraph:

Legal Weapon

The Guardian:

Legal Weapon

Daily Record:

Legal Weapon