The word ‘good’ is in today’s turf meeting at Doncaster with National Hunt horses searching for better ground out in force on Town Moor and an incredible 106 runners declared for this afternoon’s seven-race card. A Novices’ Handicap Chase over two and a half miles opens the card with Alan King‘s The Mumper (12.50) fancied to go close under regular partner Wayne Hutchinson. The 9-y-o remains relatively unexposed over fences with just four starts over the larger obstacles and, despite falling when well backed for his seasonal debut last month at Fontwell, should strip fitter for the run and go close from an unrevised mark of 102.
King saddles Give Him A Glance in the Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles with the well-bred son of Passing Glance surely better than his disappointing effort last time out at on bottomless ground at Towcester. He remains open to further improvement and flat recruit Moabit and Big Thunder respected after excellent campaigns on the level last term. Harry Fry boasts a 32% excellent strike-rate at the track and can score with Dashing Oscar (1.25) under Ryan Mahon. The selection made a pleasing reappearance when splitting the pair of Lady Yeats and Two Taffs on his seasonal debut at Bangor and with the form of that race working out well he can go one better and shed the maiden tag over timber at the second time of asking.
Fry can double-up with Thomas Brown (3.05) in an excellent renewal of the 3m Novices’ Chase. The selection was an excellent novice last term over hurdles and whilst disappointing at the spring festivals always looked the type to prove even better over fences. He was well-backed prior to making a winning chase debut at Ascot and, after finishing second in G2 company at the same venue, can return to winning ways now stepped up in trip.
David Pipe’s Spending Time still looks ahead of the handicapper despite going up 17lb at the weights for wins at Stratford and Huntingdon earlier in the campaign and would be of interest for the 3m Handicap Chase should the heavens open over South Yorkshire. His best is all going right-handed however, and preference lies instead with Present Lodger (2.00) under Peter Buchanan. The selection relishes a sounder surface and quickly racked-up a hat-trick last season and made a winning reappearance over two and a half miles at Hexham earlier in the campaign He disappointed on soft ground last time out at Kelso but remain unexposed over fences and can seal a 5th success over the larger obstacles at the expense of hat-trick seeking Cyrien Star.
Last year’s Grimthorpe winner Night in Milan (2.33) continues to ply his trader over the smaller obstacles and must go close form a hurdles mark that is 20lb than if he were turning over fences. The selection bounced back to form last time out at Musselburgh, finishing 3rd in a competitive handicap hurdle, and should reward each-way support for Keith and James Reveley.
The ground should be much softer down at Huntingdon where Nicky Henderson’s Boueur D’Air (1.35) should maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Novice’s Hurdle over the minimum trip. The selection carries a 7lb penalty for the defeat of Wait for Me at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting in November but looks an exciting prospect for connections and is 10/1 with BetVictor for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
A field of nine go to post for the feature Novices’ Handicap Chase over two and a half miles with Jonjo O’Neill’s Mountain Tunes (2.10) chanced to make it third time lucky over fences. The selection was pulled-up on his seasonal reappearance at Exeter but built on that when running well before tiring last time out at Newbury and is respected dropping back in trip from a career-low mark of 122.
BetVictor are now Non Runner No Bet on the 4 Championship races at the Cheltenham Festival with Willie Mullins‘ Djakadam the well-backed 7/2 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, bidding to go one better than last year’s runner-up effort behind Coneygree and 2/5 to score at the track on Saturday.
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