Howden Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race).
Ascot · Friday, 19 Dec · 17:15
· 2m 5f 146y
· Class 3
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
13:15
Off time
12
Runners
Soft (Good to Soft in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 12 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
4
3/1
02 · 🥈 2nd
4.33
10/3
03 · 🥉 3rd
5
4/1
04 · —
5.50
9/2
05 · —
6
5/1
06 · —
11
10/1
07 · —
34
33/1
08 · —
34
33/1
09 · —
34
33/1
10 · —
67
66/1
11 · —
251
250/1
12 · —
251
250/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Form | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | — |
Big Ticket (G)
Easily won his sole start in Irish points in May and promising second in Aintree maiden and C&D novice (both good ground) since switching to hurdles. Likely to be on the premises again.
|
1-22P13 | Sam Twiston-Davies | N & W Twiston-Davies | 4 | 71.7 kg |
6
5/1
|
| 8th | 2 | — |
Charlies Jetaway (G)
Placed both starts in points but no short-term promise on last month's Taunton hurdle debut.
|
3-26803 | Harry Kimber | S Hosie | 4 | 71.7 kg |
251
250/1
|
| 1st | 3 | — |
Crystal Island (G)
FAV
Cost £205,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points in April. Very interesting runner.
|
1-1 | N de Boinville | N J Henderson | 4 | 71.7 kg |
4
3/1
|
| — | 4 | — |
Definite Call (G)
Won his completed start in points. Fair third on Ffos Las hurdle debut in November 2023 but hasn't been seen since. Probably best to look elsewhere given the length of absence.
|
PU13/P | Charlie Hammond | Dr R Newland & J Insole | 7 | 71.7 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 6th | 5 | — |
Dig Deep (G)
Point recruit who has shaped well when runner-up in maiden/novice hurdles at Ffos Las and Warwick in recent months. Should continue to progress.
|
2-2265 | Ben Jones | B Pauling | 4 | 71.7 kg |
5.50
9/2
|
| — | 6 | — |
Fury Lad (G)
Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points but could only manage sixth in a bumper in February 2024 and showed nothing on belated return at Plumpton 18 days ago.
|
P26/PP | Tom Cannon | R Rowe | 6 | 71.7 kg |
251
250/1
|
| 4th | 7 | — |
Gaelic Pride (G)
Irish point winner who landed a heavy-ground Fontwell bumper in February. Fairly useful form when runner-up in maiden hurdles at Fontwell and Cheltenham this autumn. Up in trip. Merits respect for his in-form stable.
|
18-2241 | Caoilin Quinn | W Greatrex | 5 | 71.7 kg |
4.33
10/3
|
| — | 8 | — |
Les's Destiny Star (G)
Promising in bumpers at the beginning of 2024 but restricted to just 2 outings since. Showed enough to think he retains most of his ability when fourth of 6 on Lingfield hurdle debut back from a further 8 months off but Ben Jones seemingly…
|
4P843-P | Callum Pritchard | B Pauling | 6 | 71.7 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 2nd | 9 | — |
Off The Jury (G)
Posted some useful efforts in defeat for Alan King last season, notably his neck second of 16 in EBF Final at Sandown in March (changed hands for £250,000 after). Finished 2½ lengths behind the reopposing Big Ticket when third on his C&D r…
|
2/322P2- | James Bowen | M Bowen | 6 | 71.7 kg |
5
4/1
|
| 5th | 10 | — |
Seamoon Story (G)
Runner-up sole start in Irish points. Last of 4 in 19f course maiden on his Rules debut last month. That doesn't mark him down as the likely winner of this.
|
2-455 | David Bass | C E Longsdon | 4 | 71.7 kg |
67
66/1
|
| 7th | 11 | — |
Walk Tall (G)
Purchased for £120,000 after making a winning point debut last December. Shaped well when runner-up in Exeter bumper in February but made a disappointing start to his hurdle career at Newbury last month. Early days but can only watch after…
|
2-87652 | Brendan Powell | J Tizzard | 5 | 71.7 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 3rd | 12 | — |
West Hill Verde (G)
Runner-up on the first of 3 bumper starts and promise in a pair of 2m Newbury maiden hurdles this season, finishing third of 15 latterly. The longer trip today could unlock more improvement.
|
8-53323 | H Cobden | J W Mullins | 5 | 71.7 kg |
11
10/1
|
Betting forecast: Crystal Island (3/1), Gaelic Pride (10/3), Off The Jury (4/1), Dig Deep (9/2), Big Ticket (5/1), West Hill Verde (10/1), Walk Tall (33/1), Les's Destiny Star (33/1), Definite Call (33/1), Seamoon Story (66/1), Charlies Jetaway (250/1), Fury Lad (250/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 8169.0 GBP |
| P2 | 3764.0 GBP |
| P3 | 1881.0 GBP |
| P4 | 942.0 GBP |