Despite damp conditions, the Breakfast With Santa Raceday provided punters with plenty of festive joy in November 2025. The feature race came in the Beryl Shaw 90th Birthday Mares’ Handicap Chase, where an unchallenged frontrunner put up the performance of the day. Ground conditions ranged from Soft to Heavy throughout.
Race 1 – Wrexham Lager Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Finally off the mark after a string of placed efforts, Atlantic Lad (6/4F) came home a valiant winner of the opener, holding on by a neck under Theo Gillard for the Donald McCain team. Taking the field along at a steady tempo, Atlantic Lad was never out of first place through the opening couple of miles, racing a couple of lengths clear of Judicial Deference (14/1) as they made their way over the third-last. Coming to the home turn with a growing advantage, Atlantic Lad looked to have the race in the bag approaching the second-last. However, after a renewed effort from Judicial Deference briefly threatened to spoil the party, Atlantic Lad was made to work very hard in the final furlong, just doing enough to scrape home in front. Another course winner for Dalwhinnie Bloodstock Limited, connections also scored here with Bellbird in June!
Race 2 – Remembering Sally Anne Malam Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
A horse with a lofty reputation, Idaho Sun (1/14F) proved exactly why when running out an easy winner of the second race, leading from pillar to post to score by 11 lengths for Bryan Carver and Harry Fry. Setting off quite quickly from the outset, Bryan Carver took the race by the scruff of the neck aboard Idaho Sun, stretching further and further clear through the opening mile and a half as Count Adhemar (16/1) led the chasers. Pinging every hurdle with consummate ease, Idaho Sun was in a world of his own coming round the final bend, well clear of a staying on They Want Me (16/1) as Count Adhemar began to tire. Cantering clear and only really causing a minor shock when clouting the last, Idaho Sun was ultimately far too good for his rivals in Race 2. A team to follow when in form, Carver and Fry also joined forces to win a Grade 2 with Gidleigh Park this year!
Race 3 – Beryl Shaw 90th Birthday Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
Unchallenged from the outset, It’s Easy (6/4) really lived up to his name when taking the third race by a sublime 40 lengths, jumping well under Ellis Collier to score for Welsh trainer Evan Williams. Jumping nicely over the opening four obstacles, It’s Easy took over the outright lead from Loud And Proud (33/1) over the fifth fence, Ellis Collier seizing the opportunity to make it a real stamina test for the remainder of the contest.
Kicking further clear, It’s Easy appeared to settle the race in a matter of strides after jumping three-out, galloping on strongly into the home straight with Ilovethenightlife (3/1) and Regal Renaissance (5/4F) well in arrears. Nimble over two-out, It’s Easy provided her supporters with a minor scare after an awkward jump at the last but eventually came home as easy as you like, providing a 25th career winner for Ellis Collier!
Race 4 – Gaskells Waste Management Services Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 3m)
Another to make the running, Newton Tornado (7/4F) added another victory for the Welsh in the fourth race, going on to land the spoils by an impressive 9 lengths for Jamie Brace and Rebecca Curtis. Inclined to jump to his right, Newton Tornado did his own thing through the first couple of miles, setting a very sedate pace ahead of Laganhill (2/1) and Georges Saint (8/1) as the field headed down the far side for the final time. Despite leaning to the right, Newton Tornado jumped well through the final mile of the contest, managing to maintain the lead as the chasers bunched up over the third-last, with Magical King (11/2) and Grand Albert (11/1) now staying on for pressure. Still travelling well with two to go, Newton Tornado was never in any real danger down the home straight, and after clearing the last two fences well, the leader came home in fine style to score in the colours of Rebecca Curtis’s former stable star Lisnagar Oscar!
Race 5 – Selby Rural Chartered Surveyors & Agricultural Valuers Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Made to work but ultimately too good for his rivals, Jour d’Evasion (EvensF) rewarded favourite backers in fine style when landing the fifth race under Sam Twiston-Davies, keeping on well by 4 ¼ lengths for trainer Henry Daly. Prominent from the get-go, Jour d’Evasion raced up with the pace for much of the contest, keeping company with recent winner Passing Kate (15/2) through the opening mile as Jack Black (6/1) headed the remainder. As the field made their way through halfway, Passing Kate and Jour d’Evasion put a fair distance between themselves and the challengers, kicking well clear down the far side as Grey Diamond (66/1) made some headway into third. Heading towards the final two obstacles, little separated the leading pair, both moving well as the winning post loomed. However, finding that little bit extra, Jour d’Evasion stuck on strongly in the final furlong, ridden out to the line to land the spoils. Another victory for Sam Twiston-Davies, the jockey is now up to 53 winners for the season!
Race 6 – Wynnstay Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Maries’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
A horse in fine form, Be The Difference (3/1) made the most of a race-winning move from jockey Freddie Keighley to take the final race of the day, scuttling home by 4 lengths for trainer Philip Kirby. Keen in the early stages, Be The Difference proved to be a handful, and in a bid to keep him settled, Freddie Keighley took his mount from fourth to first heading into the final mile and a half, kicking a few lengths clear of Fancy Nancy Pants (17/2) in second. Bolting clear on the run towards the final three obstacles, Be The Difference was soon in a different league to his rivals, widening the gap to around a dozen lengths as Stamina Chope (9/2) moved into second. Ridden along firmly around the home turn, Be The Difference needed to be kept up to his work in the closing stages, but despite the best efforts of Stamina Chope, the bird had very much flown. Enjoying his best year to date, Freddie Keighley is now up to 12 winners for the season!
Race report by Adam Perkins
