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: 13:15  |   Winning time: 5m 25.91s
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Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
Big Ticket27
Age: 4|  Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR:  126
5/1
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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Timeform
2
Horse silk
250/1
Placed both starts in points but no short-term promise on last month's Taunton hurdle debut.
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Timeform
Cost £205,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points in April. Very interesting runner.
|
Timeform
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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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Dig Deep30
Age: 4|  Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR:  118| BF
9/2
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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Timeform
6
Horse silk
Fury Lad18
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: R Rowe
250/1
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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Timeform
7
Horse silk
Gaelic Pride33
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: W Greatrex| OR:  122
10/3
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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Timeform
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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Timeform
9
Horse silk
Off The Jury27
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR:  131
4/1
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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Timeform
10
Horse silk
66/1
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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Timeform
11
Horse silk
33/1
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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Timeform
12
Horse silk
10/1
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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Timeform

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)

Verdict

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.

Previous Winners

2024
Belliano
Weight: 11-4  |Age: 5
4/5

Prize Money

1st: £8,169.002nd: £3,764.003rd: £1,881.004th: £942.00

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