February 05 / 14.25 Doncaster

14.25

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5650.67
  • 2m 3f 88y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

2/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 15-316 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won big-field bumper on debut here (2m, good to soft) last January and easily won here (2m, soft) in November on second hurdle start; tailed off in Grade 1 at Aintree since but retains potential now back here for his handicap debut; bred to be suited by the step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Storming George

11st 7lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Resumed his progress with a clearcut success in novice handicap at Newbury (2m3f, good to soft) last time; has failed to shine in two Graded attempts over hurdles but may prove a brighter spark back at Aintree, having performed well (fifth of 15) in Grade 2 bumper at this meeting 12 months ago; has won over 2m.

33/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

13:50 Newbury

Storming George

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Met with heavy defeats in a Grade 1 three starts back and a Grade 2 on latest but progressive form in his other three hurdle races, second of five in a handicap at Doncaster (extended 2m3f) on penultimate outing; needs to resume progress.

11/2

7th

9

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Kempton

Storming George

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Fifth in Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last spring and, bar one blip, has made a good impression over hurdles, winning at Doncaster (2m, soft) in November and pulling clear of the third when runner-up in handicap there (2m3f, soft) 16 days ago; that form sets the standard and he commands respect.

8/1

Form: F31-52 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
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.
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: -17383

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent but he's won over hurdles five times (soft-good) and returned to form when third at Taunton (2m3f, good) four weeks ago; he might not be far away if he's on another going day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Bluegrass

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

All five wins over hurdles have been at 2m; hasn't won since his return to action in October and ran poorly when eighth of nine finishers at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; handicapper is at last relenting but his best chance of success in the short-term may be back at 2m.

8/1

8th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Bluegrass

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Record of 5-23 over hurdles and placed a few times as well; a bit up and down this season but ran respectably in the new blinkers at Fakenham last time and now regular cheekpieces return over a longer trip that may suit him better.

10/1

Form: 43-272 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Things have been up and down since he won on his rules debut at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in December 2024 but this lightly raced 6yo was back on song when runner-up there (2m4f, good to soft) last month; could be in the shake-up if conditions aren't an issue (unproven on soft).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Smokeringinthedark

10st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced and improving; beat Fingal's Hill by 2l at Newcastle (2m4f) before finding only one too good upped to Class 2 level at Haydock (3m, good); didn't fail for stamina that day but he'll be fine back in trip; player.

9/2

2nd

9

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

16:25 Haydock

Smokeringinthedark

10st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Maiden winner who opened his account in handicaps with a comfortable win at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) two weeks ago; a 3lb rise seems fair for all that it wasn't a strong race, and his yard can do little wrong right now.

3/1

1st

5

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Smokeringinthedark

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Only win was in a four-runner Musselburgh maiden hurdle in December 2024 (2m4f, good to soft); best run this season when second over same C&D in January (good to soft); chance on that form.

7/2

Form: 1/

Last run: 685 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

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

Non-runners

Geromino

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.50
Straight Forecast £10.46
Trifecta £38.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Smokeringinthedark

TOPSPEED:

I'm A Lumberjack

SPOTLIGHT:

Storming George

The Guardian:

Geromino

Telegraph:

Storming George

D Express:

Storming George

The Times:

Smokeringinthedark

Daily Mail:

Smokeringinthedark

Daily Mirror:

Smokeringinthedark

Daily Record:

Smokeringinthedark

POSTDATA:

I'm A Lumberjack

The Sun:

I'm A Lumberjack

The Star:

I'm A Lumberjack