There’s a quality card from Doncaster on Saturday afternoon that includes Grade 2 events via the December Novices’ Chase and the Summit Juvenile Hurdle.
They have got seven races on Town Moor from 11.50am-3.15pm with conditions at the Yorkshire layout set to be ‘Good to soft’.
You can watch every race from Doncaster, as well as all of the UK and Ireland action, via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster has a race-by-race look at Saturday’s Doncaster action.
11.50 – bet365 Novices’ Hurdle (2m3½f)
Donald McCain’s Gredin justified favouritism to win at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) in late October – a race from which the runner-up came out and won a handicap at Ayr off 112 next time – but he has more on his plate now carrying a 6lb penalty. Ask The Doc and Top Of The Bill are potential contenders but so, too, is WESTWOOD RYDER for Nicky Henderson.
He was second in a Huntingdon bumper in May on debut. The third won a bumper next time, while the winner won his first two over timber for Jamie Snowden. This youngster should be well prepared for his hurdling bow and is fancied to take well to the new challenge.
Selection: Westwood Ryder @ SP
12.20 – Each Way Extra At Bet365 Handicap Chase (2m½f)
Connections of STEPNEY CAUSEWAY would have had every right to be pleased with his chasing-debut second behind Edwardstone at Warwick (2m, good to soft) last month. He jumped well, travelled nicely and came well clear of the third. The winner romped home in last weekend’s Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown, boosting the form markedly in doing so. Dan Skelton’s youngster gets 9lb from likely market rival Some Reign and he might not need it.
Selection: Stepney Causeway @ SP
12.55 – bet365 December Novices’ Chase (Grade 2, 3m)
Nothing original here but a shock if THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE doesn’t make another gain on the front nine of his novice chasing campaign. He was turned over at Chepstow first time up by Does He Know but is 2-2 since and well and truly reversed that form at Cheltenham last month when he was well served by his fencing. Fantastikas made a very pleasing start to his own chasing career at Lingfield last month and has further improvement in him, but he’ll likely need a chunk of it to come quickly if he’s going to bag this. He may, however, hold sway over Emitom despite a pleasing comeback from him at Hexham.
Selection: Threeunderthrufive @ 8/13
1.30 – bet365 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3m½f)
Shantou Sunset and Do Ya Feel Lucky were having quite the battle at Newton Abbot in October when the latter crashed out at the final flight. David Pipe’s mare had jumped very well up to that point and might gain some revenge now if staying upright. Shantou Sunset has been held since at Ascot but drops in grade and sports a pair of blinkers now.
They both should be wary of FINAL REMINDER for Neil Alexander and Brian Hughes. She won over this trip at Ayr in May and went close again afterwards at Catterick over further when collared late. She has won off a break before and can go well on this seasonal return.
Selection: Final Reminder @ SP
2.05 – bet365 Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)
SONIGINO was quite gutsy in his Auteuil success back in June and last month’s stable bow for Paul Nicholls saw him finishing third in a Listed novice contest at Haydock over just 1m7½f. He’ll be sharper for that run, should appreciate this increased distance and may benefit from a positive ride from Bryony Frost now making his handicap bow. The form of Takeit Easy’s second at Huntingdon last month is strong and so he can uphold previous superiority over Tommy’s Oscar and prove a major threat to all.
Selection: Sonigino @ 7/2
2.40 – bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m½f)
An excellent field of eight line up here with the majority having something to recommend about them. Paul Nicholls has won three of the last five renewals and relies on Magistrato now. He was second to Porticello in one start in France and only fourth last month at Cheltenham in a Grade 2 race won impressively by KNIGHT SALUTE for Milton Harris. It’s of some note that Paddy Brennan scorns Cheltenham this afternoon to be here and, were he from a more fashionable stable, Knight Salute might not be 5/1 to win this. He’s improving all the while and can do so again.
Impulsive One was second to the selection at Kempton in October but is much better off on these terms and has undergone a wind op since, so he’s got prospects, as do unbeaten hurdlers Porticello and Too Friendly in what looks a strong renewal of this Summit Juvenile Hurdle.
Selection: Knight Salute @ 5/1
3.15 – bet365 Handicap Chase (3m)
Two For Gold very often is seen to best effect when fresh and so he’s entitled to go well now 3lb lower in the ratings having unseated David Bass in the Topham at Aintree when last spotted. Fidux ran well at Haydock last month when third (holds Mr Muldoon on that form) but THE WOLF is another with excellent credentials when fresh. He ended last season with a good second at Perth over this trip and is only rated 1lb higher now. Olly Murphy’s horses are flying right now and he’s got to be feared.
Selection: The Wolf @ 7/2
*All odds correct at time of writing