13:15 Ascot
Friday 19 December 2025
All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35
Howden Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)
- 4YO plus  |  Class 3  |  2m 5f 146y  |  Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |  12 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 13:15Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 5m 25.91s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
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.
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Placed both starts in points but no short-term promise on last month's Taunton hurdle debut.
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Cost £205,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points in April. Very interesting runner.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 prefers stablemate Dig Deep.
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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 reappearance 4 weeks ago but he's entitled to be sharper now.
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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.
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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 that.
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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.
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Forecasts
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)
An interesting maiden. CRYSTAL ISLAND saw off a recent Wincanton bumper runner-up when winning his Irish point in the spring and is selected to make a winning start to his hurdle career for new connections, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Big Ticket, Off The Jury and Gaelic Pride are all pretty useful and should be on the premises, while Ben Pauling's Dig Deep looks capable of better again.
- Big Ticket5/1
- Off The Jury4/1
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £8,169.002nd: £3,764.003rd: £1,881.004th: £942.00
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