Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old is set to grab victory in the Listed feature at the Esher track while Jet Plane, Siam Park, Henri The Second, Sinnatra, Annsam, Imaginarium, Premier, Wicked Thoughts, Outlaw Peter, Tuscan Rose, Seaniecon and No Tricks At All may also be Saturday scorers
18:00, 02 Jan 2026Updated 20:30, 04 Jan 2026
Eventual winner Nurse Susan, ridden by Harry Skelton (centre left blue and yellow colours), during the Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday, December 13 2025(Image: David Davies/PA)
NURSE SUSAN can secure victory in the Unibet Mares Novices’ Hurdle (2.25pm) at Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon if the meeting passes a precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday morning.
Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old mare can land the Listed feature at the Esher track. Nurse Susan remains fairly lightly-raced despite being a nine-year-old and she has a decent strike-rate, winning five times in 11 career starts. She won twice around this time 12 months ago, scoring at Cheltenham before Christmas over this 2m4½f distance and then triumphing at Lingfield in January when stepped up in trip to 2m7f.
Nurse Susan was down the field at both the Cheltenham Festival and the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in the spring. But after a summer break and then blowing off the cobwebs at Carlisle in November, she ran out a fine winner of the 2m4½f Mares’ Handicap Hurdle back at Cheltenham, travelling well and staying on for an excellent victory over Siog Geal.
She steps back up to Listed company for the first time since November 2025 and this looks an ideal opportunity to grab some black type. Nurse Susan can triumph ahead of chiefly the Paul Nicholls-trained Jubilee Alpha, who should get closer than when fifth to the Skelton mare at Cheltenham last time.
Another Skelton-trained last-time-out winner, JET PLANE, can also score again in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier) (1.50pm). The 10-year-old won last month at Leicester, having been seventh on his seasonal return over the Grand National fences in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in November. He looks to hold a good chance of following up on that Handicap Chase victory with another in the Veterans’ Chase Series.
SIAM PARK can win the Try Unibet’s Smartview Racecards Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.45pm). Joe Tizzard’s seven-year-old has been in fine form over the past 12 months, winning four times in six starts as well as finishing second and third in his two other runs. Siam Park ran out an impressive winner of a Handicap Chase at Plumpton last time and despite featuring in a deeper contest this time can triumph ahead of Vanderpoel, from the in-form Ben Pauling stable.
HENRI THE SECOND can add to his good course form at Sandown with another victory in the Try Unibet’s New Acca Boosts Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (1.15pm). The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old has won twice and been second at the track including when landing the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 2m7f in December 2024 and the Grade Two Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle over course and distance in December 2022. Henri The Second made his chasing debut when third of four at Doncaster in November but reverts to the smaller obstacles. He can score again ahead of Tom Lacey’s Luttrell Lad.
Evan Williams’ ANNSAM can back up a recent win at Ludlow with another in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2025 Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Final) (3.05pm). The 10-year-old grabbed a first victory since a previous success at the same Ludlow track in April 2023. Although Annsam is not the most reliable of horses, he looked good when winning last time and off a mark still 10lbs below his previous win in 2023, should give it another bold bid to triumph.
Olly Murphy’s IMAGINARIUM can make a belated winning return in the Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier) (3.35pm). The six-year-old has not run since scoring at Perth in April last year. But if he’s ready he should be able to score again.
Another Skelton inmate, SINNATRA, can land a first win over obstacles in the Watch The Unibet Racing Post Postcast Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.05pm) having been runner-up in two runs so far this season both at Newbury in November.
At Wincanton PREMIER can win the Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm) if the meeting also passes a precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday morning. The Warren Greatrex-trained four-year-old – who was a winner on the Flat at Bath in October 2024 – had run well in four hurdle starts, finishing second, fourth and third before getting off the mark at Taunton last month. Premier can build on that first success over obstacles and back it up with another win here.
Paul Nicholls generally does well at his local track of Wincanton and he may be among the winners again. Nicholls’ WICKED THOUGHTS can win the Bet 10 Get 40 With BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race)(1.30pm). The seven-year-old – a winner over hurdles at Ascot last March – made a winning debut over the bigger obstacles when making all to score at Taunton at the end of November. Wicked Thoughts can make it two from two over fences with victory stepped up slightly in trip to an extended 3m1f.
Nicholls may also win the opener, the BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race (12.27pm), with course winner OUTLAW PETER. The 10-year-old was third of three runners at Newbury on his seasonal return at the start of November. With that run under his belt, he can return to winning ways in another three-runner contest.
Nicholls’ MALDINI MILANO can also triumph in the Play Golden Goals At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle (2.40pm).
NO TRICKS AT ALL can take the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)) (12.57pm). The Olly Murphy-trained four-year-old made a winning debut over hurdles at Worcester in March. And he can make it two from two in this two-mile contest.
Neil Mulholland’s TUSCAN ROSE can get off the mark for the season with victory in the Daily Profit Boosts At BetMGM Novices’ Handicap Chase (3.17pm). The seven-year-old – who last victory was at Ffos Las in April last year – was third in a Handicap Chase at Wincanton last month and may be able to build on that to return to winning ways.
SEANIECON can win the finale, the Download The BetMGM App Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.50pm). The Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained makes his debut Under Rules having won a point-to-point at Ballingarry when trained by Jim O’Neill. He looks to have scope to do well and may make a winning debut.
On the all-weather Flat track of Lingfield, Gary and Josh Moore’s MARINE can win the Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap(1.45pm); and the Sir Mark Prescott-trained WESTCOMBE can land a hat-trick of victories in the Midnite Are Upping The Betting Game Handicap (GBBPlus Race)(2.20pm).
Wright Ones
SANDOWN (precautionary inspection 8am Saturday)
12.05pm Sinnatra 12.40pm Siam Park 1.15pm Henri The Second 1.50pm Jet Plane 2.25pm Nurse Susan (NAP) 3.05pm Annsam 3.35pm Imaginarium
WINCANTON (precautionary inspection 8am Saturday)
12.22pm Outlaw Peter 12.57pm No Tricks At All 1.30pm Wicked Thoughts 2.05pm Premier 2.40pm Maldini Milano 3.17pm Tuscan Rose 3.50pm Seaniecon
NEWCASTLE (ABANDONED)
LINGFIELD
11.40am Cooramook 12.10pm Florida Suite 12.40pm Goldust Woman 1.10pm Pitney 1.45pm Marine 2.20pm Westcombe 2.52pm Blue Empress 3.29pm Toussarok
SOUTHWELL
5pm Archangel Josepi 5.30pm Brazilian Rose 6pm Roaring Ralph 6.30pm Overlooked 7pm Bin Ajwad 7.30pm Jungle Ruler 8pm Daaris 8.30pm Return With Gold
CORK
12.35pm The Reverend 1.05pm Spinola Bay 1.40pm Fillyoureye 2.15pm Cousin Kate 2.47pm Rowdy 3.22pm Raglan Road 3.57pm Owning Flower
SUNDAY’S NAP: Ken Roy (Plumpton 2.35pm)