Virgin Bet EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race).
Doncaster · Friday, 23 Jan · 16:45
· 2m 3f 88y
· Class 4
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
12:45
Off time
13
Runners
Soft
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
🏆 Top pick
WEST HILL VERDE (FR
🥈 Second
HARDLY SURPRISING (IRE
🥉 Third
KIWI RUSH (IRE
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 15 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
2.38
11/8
02 · 🥈 2nd
3.50
5/2
03 · 🥉 3rd
5.50
9/2
04 · —
5.50
9/2
05 · —
6.50
11/2
06 · —
15
14/1
07 · —
29
28/1
08 · —
34
33/1
09 · —
34
33/1
10 · —
41
40/1
11 · —
51
50/1
12 · —
81
80/1
13 · —
101
100/1
14 · —
151
150/1
15 · —
301
300/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th | 1 | — |
Agent Argylle (G)
Irish point winner who shaped like a stayer when mid-division in Wetherby bumper over Christmas. Longer trip should suit now hurdling but probably still best watched.
|
Finn Lambert | R T Phillips | 6 | 74.4 kg |
81
80/1
|
| — | 2 | — |
Berks And Bucks (G)
Only mid-division in 2 bumpers ahead of this switch to hurdles.
|
Brendan Powell | L Wadham | 6 | 74.4 kg |
101
100/1
|
| — | 3 | — |
Danger Nap (G)
Fair form in first 2 bumpers last season but more of a longer-term project over hurdles judged on his first attempt at Aintree in October.
|
Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | J & A O'Neill | 5 | 74.4 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 5th | 4 | — |
Dig Deep (G)
Point recruit who shaped well when runner-up in maiden/novice hurdles at Ffos Las and Warwick in the autumn. However, only a respectable sixth at Ascot since, with the reopposing West Hill Verde around 11 lengths ahead in third.
|
Ben Jones | B Pauling | 5 | 74.4 kg |
5.50
9/2
|
| 3rd | 5 | — |
Hardly Surprising (G)
FAV
[T]
Half-brother to smart Fiddlerontheroof. Won sole start Irish point last spring. Better effort in maiden hurdles for new connections in November when beaten just over a length into third at Bangor (19.5f. heavy) latterly. Likely capable of …
|
Bryan Carver | H Fry | 5 | 74.4 kg |
2.38
11/8
|
| 6th | 6 | — |
Kastellion (G)
Second on sole start in Irish points last spring. Some positives to take from hurdles debut sixth at Chepstow but failed to build on that over 20.5f at Leicester next time (since undergone wind surgery).
|
Toby Wynne | Mrs M Rowley | 6 | 74.4 kg |
34
33/1
|
| — | 7 | — |
Kiwi Rush (G)
[T]
Winner of the second of his 3 starts in bumpers. Promising fourth on 20.5f Newbury hurdle debut in November and better than result in maiden at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, stumbling badly 3 out. Retains potential.
|
Paul O'Brien | Harry Derham | 6 | 74.4 kg |
5.50
9/2
|
| 8th | 8 | — |
Les's Destiny Star (G)
Course bumper winner 2 years ago. Fair fourth on 19.5f Lingfield hurdle debut in November but pulled up at Ascot since. Might be more one for handicaps after this.
|
Kielan Woods | B Pauling | 7 | 74.4 kg |
41
40/1
|
| — | 9 | — |
Mulinas (G)
[H1]
Point winner who was placed in 2 bumpers in spring 2024 but hasn't been seen since. Hooded for hurdle debut. Betting perhaps the best guide to expectations given the length of absence.
|
Sam Twiston-Davies | P F Nicholls | 7 | 74.4 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 4th | 10 | — |
Name Me Nicely (G)
Looked in need of the experience in bumper/maiden hurdle on first 2 starts but in process of showing improved form when unseating at the last (likely to have finished third) in a steadily-run C&D novice (good to soft) 41 days ago,
|
Thomas Bellamy | K Bailey & M Nicholls | 6 | 74.4 kg |
29
28/1
|
| — | 11 | — |
Passing Diamond (G)
Fair form when in the frame in a pair of bumpers for David O'Brien in Ireland last summer but remote sixth on Hereford hurdle debut for new yard last month.
|
Bradley Harris | N P Mulholland | 6 | 74.4 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 1st | 12 | — |
Rathkenny (G)
Landed an Irish point early last year and also made a winning start under Rules in 4-runner bumper at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) in November. Held back by inexperience when third of 4 on Fontwell hurdle debut on Boxing Day. Open to progress.
|
C O'Farrell | N P Mulholland | 6 | 74.4 kg |
6.50
11/2
|
| — | 13 | — |
Scrumpyjack (G)
No obvious promise on Hereford bumper debut just before Christmas.
|
Daire James McConville | C E Longsdon | 5 | 74.4 kg |
151
150/1
|
| 2nd | 14 | — |
West Hill Verde (G)
Runner-up on the first of 3 bumper starts and going the right way over hurdles, finishing third of 12 in a decent novice at Ascot (21.5f, good to soft) 5 weeks ago, with the reopposing Dig Deep behind him. Open to further progress and lead…
|
B S Hughes | J W Mullins | 6 | 74.4 kg |
3.50
5/2
|
| — | 15 | — |
Tierbay (M)
Down the field in 2 Warwick bumpers before Christmas and outsider now hurdling.
|
Lee Edwards | Miss C Dyson | 6 | 71.2 kg |
301
300/1
|
Betting forecast: Hardly Surprising (11/8), West Hill Verde (5/2), Dig Deep (9/2), Kiwi Rush (9/2), Rathkenny (11/2), Mulinas (14/1), Name Me Nicely (28/1), Kastellion (33/1), Danger Nap (33/1), Les's Destiny Star (40/1), Passing Diamond (50/1), Agent Argylle (80/1), Berks And Bucks (100/1), Scrumpyjack (150/1), Tierbay (300/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 6535.0 GBP |
| P2 | 3011.0 GBP |
| P3 | 1505.0 GBP |
| P4 | 754.0 GBP |