16:00 Doncaster

Friday 23 January 2026

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

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 23.42s

1^st

Mask Of Zorro

611-13

2/1

T: J TizzardJ: Brendan Powell

Made all, went two lengths clear after 1st, hit top of 4 out, pushed along when bad mistake 2 out, rallied when faced sustained challenge approaching final flight, landed awkwardly last, soon rallied and stayed on gamely op 7/4

2^nd

Ilitch

811-11

6/4f

T: S EdmundsJ: Charlie Hammond

Prominent early, soon raced in second, travelling well when pressed leader 2 out, ridden approaching last, landed awkwardly last, stayed in but always held towards finish op 9/4

3^rd

Be The Difference

1011-11

7/1

T: P A KirbyJ: Joe Williamson (3)

Held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, not fluent but took third 2 out, ridden to hold position before last, kept going remote third op 6/1

4^th

Milan Park

711-8

10/1

T: C GrantJ: Ross Chapman

Towards rear, mistake 6th, pushed along after 3 out, briefly disputed second before 2 out, outpaced and lost third approaching last, weakened run-in op 15/2

Also Ran

Vee Dancer

1112-1

80/1

T: R PotterJ: Freddie Keighley (7)

Held up in rear, outpaced and pushed along before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out tchd 66/1

Justus

811-5

16/1

T: Micky HammondJ: B S Hughes

Prominent, outpaced after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out op 18/1 tchd 14/1 and tchd 22/1

Greedy Smith

611-2

6/1

T: J & A O'NeillJ: Kielan Woods

Soon raced in second, dropped to midfield before 3rd, outpaced and struggling after 3 out, soon tailed off, pulled up after 2 out tchd 13/2

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Non-Runners

Passing Pleasure³⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Craig Nichol

The Two Harrys⁵³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Romeo Brown⁴¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 12

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Oscar Palmer

Balboa²⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£3.00Pl:£1.90, £1.30EX:£6.70Trifecta:£24.20Tricast:£15.82SF:£5.82Swingers:£1.30, £2.40, £2.30

Forecasts

Ilitch (6/4), Mask Of Zorro (2/1), Passing Pleasure (11/4), Romeo Brown (11/2), Greedy Smith (6/1), Be The Difference (7/1), The Two Harrys (7/1), Milan Park (10/1), Justus (16/1), Balboa (20/1), Vee Dancer (80/1)

MASK OF ZORRO recorded a good time when pulling clear with another progressive type at Taunton last month and this scopey sort should make a bold bid for the 4-timer. This does look competitive, though, with unexposed pair Passing Pleasure and The Two Harrys heading the dangers.

MASK OF ZORRO (IRE)
PASSING PLEASURE
THE TWO HARRYS (IRE)

Previous Winners

2025

Blue Hop

Weight: 11-9 |Age: 8

J: J M Quinlan | T: B Brookhouse

11/1

Prize Money

1st: £5,281.002nd: £2,430.003rd: £1,215.004th: £608.005th: £303.00