Monday 29th December 2025
Challow Hurdle Day
1.50 Newbury: Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 2)
KING’S THRESHOLD won three in a row last season before finding Grade 3 company at Sandown too much on his penultimate start. He put a lacklustre seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham in October behind him last time out, when finishing fourth of twelve behind Booster Bob at this track in a Class 2 event, keeping on in the closing stages. He’s a pound lower here and can make his presence felt up in distance. (4/1) (Win)
2.10 Doncaster: Sky Sports Racing Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase (Listed Race)
SPINDLEBERRY should prove very tough to beat here for Willie Mullins, if she’s anywhere near the best of her ability. She signed off her season last term with a win in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse, and opened her account at the first time of asking this term with a comfortable two-length success in a Listed event at Clonmel last month. A bold showing is highly likely under Danny Mullins. (11/10) (Win)
2.22 Newbury: Join Coral “Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
DOCTORS HILL posted a very encouraing effort on his handicap debut at Wincanton earlier this month, finishing third of ten and keeping on to be two and a half lengths behind the eventual winner Non Stop. That run followed a four and a quarter length success in a novice event at Chepstow in November, and he should certainly pay his way in handicaps for Phillip Hobbs & Johnson White. He’s just a pound higher than his Wincanton run here, and looks a player up in distance, given how he stayed on last time. (4/1) (Win)
2.32 Leopardstown: December Hurdle (Grade 1)
LOSSIEMOUTH is the one they all have to beat here for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. The eight-time Grade 1 winner added her latest top-level success to her illustrious CV with a nineteen-length success in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month, in what was her first outing of this campaign, albeit it was a very weak renewal. She should still take a big step forward coming into her second start of the season here, and whilst last year’s winner Brighterdaysahead would pose a significant threat if anywhere near her best, it’ll likely take a big performance to stop the Mullins mare. (8/13) (Win)
2.45 Doncaster: Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
BUGISE SEAGULL could be worth taking a chance on here at an each-way price for Charlie Longsdon and former champion jockey Brian Hughes. His jumping let him down here over fences on his seasonal reappearance last month, and as a result, reverts back to hurdles for this particular assignment, and he looks to be on a very manageable mark. He was two and a half lengths behind the winner when third in this race last year off a three-pound higher mark, and he should also be a lot more forward following his run here last month. (13/2) (Each-Way)
3.00 Newbury: Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
NO DRAMA THIS END looks as though he’s potentially a top-class prospect, and a welcome one for the Paul Nicholls yard. He comes into the race having looked seriously impressive at both Cheltenham and Sandown, winning back-to-back Grade 2 events comfortably. There are several in the race here who are likely to take a big step forward; however, the Nicolls charge sets a very high standard on what he’s shown so far, and he’ll take some stopping. (4/7) (Win)
3.15 Kelso: Chas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
BARATABLET looks like a progressive five-year-old for Nicky Richards, and comes into this race having won back-to-back handicaps, with his most recent success coming earlier this month at Newcastle, where he won by four lengths over a slightly shorter distance. Given how dominant he was on that occasion, these extra furlongs shouldn’t pose an issue for him, and a seven-pound rise in the weights may not be enough to halt his progression. (6/4) (Win) (NAP)
3.35 Newbury: Coral “Pipped-At-The Post” Payouts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
NEWTON TORNADO was impressive last time out at Bangor, putting his Cheltenham fall behind him by winning by nine lengths for recent Welsh Grand National winning trainer Rebecca Curtis. He’s up eight pounds in the weights for that success; however, given the authority of that success, he should have every chance of making a bold fist of that rise here. There should be more to come, and he’s a big player under the King George-winning rider Ben Jones. (9/4) (Win) (NB)
