12:45 Doncaster

Friday 23 January 2026

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:00

Virgin Bet EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 4m 49.80s

Agent Argylle²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips

80/1

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.

Form: 51-8

Berks And Bucks⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: L Wadham

100/1

Only mid-division in 2 bumpers ahead of this switch to hurdles.

Form: 57

Danger Nap⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

33/1

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.

Form: 250-6

Dig Deep³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 118

9/2

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.

Form: 2-226

Hardly Surprising^t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry

11/8

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 better again.

Form: 1-53

Kastellion⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Toby Wynne| T: Mrs M RowleyWS

33/1

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).

Form: 2-64

Les's Destiny Star³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| C

40/1

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.

Form: 12/0-4P

Mulinas^h1⁶⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

14/1

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.

Form: 123/

Name Me Nicely⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

28/1

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,

Form: 3/6-7U

Rathkenny²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland

11/2

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.

Form: 21-13

Scrumpyjack³⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon

150/1

No obvious promise on Hereford bumper debut just before Christmas.

Form: 0-

West Hill Verde³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J W Mullins| OR: 123

5/2

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 leading claims.

Form: 2/98-533

Tierbay⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: Miss C Dyson

300/1

Down the field in 2 Warwick bumpers before Christmas and outsider now hurdling.

Form: 99

Non-Runners

Kiwi Rush²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Passing Diamond⁴⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: Bradley Harris

Forecasts

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)

WEST HILL VERDE should have a race like this within his grasp judged on his good third in a useful maiden at Ascot before Christmas. Hardly Surprising should have more to offer on the back of his latest Bangor third and is second choice ahead of Kiwi Rush, who was better than the result at Cheltenham last time.