It’s the second afternoon of a cracking weekend’s racing at Doncaster on Saturday.
The Yorkshire venue hosts their feature Sky Bet Chase at 3.20pm, with able supporting acts via the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle and River Don Novices’ Hurdle ahead of that contest.
Seven races in all on Town Moor from 12.25pm-3.55pm with conditions forecast to be ‘Good-good to soft in places’,
You can watch all the action alongside every race from the UK and Ireland via live streaming when logged into MansionBet and our tipster has a race-by-race guide to the Doncaster card.
12.25 – Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)
This is an open and tough contest to begin proceedings. Last month’s 2m course winner Gala De Corton is low-mileage and retains potential for better while Inishbiggle won over C&D on his most recent start. Jay Jay Reilly moves into handicaps with untapped potential but CREATIVE CONTROL might be some value for the Donald McCain team.
He was a winner here in December, backing up prior Sedgefield success, and while he ran credibly back at that venue on Boxing Day, three runs in a month may have caught up with him in finishing third. The capable Peter Kavanagh takes 7lb off now and they have their chance.
Selection: Creative Control @ SP
1.00 – Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase (3m)
It’s hard to be overly confident on any of these. Tide Times has shaped well in his three fencing starts and looks sure to be involved for the Ian Williams team but preference is for WIGGLESWORTH. He won at Worcester in the autumn over just shy of this trip and is back on that same mark now, while the excellent Cillin Leonard is great value for his claim and has a 20 per-cent strike-rate when riding for Dr Richard Newland.
Selection: Wigglesworth @ SP
1.35 – Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2, 2m½f)
His unbeaten record went up in smoke at Sandown in December but all is certainly not lost for THIRD TIME LUCKI. He jumped exuberantly and travelled freely in that Grade 1 contest and paid for it late on. The form however is quite strong given the subsequent exploits of those that were in front and behind him. Do Your Job fell in that same race and though he has run well since in defeat, may need more to land this. For Pleasure could be on dangerous ground if taking on the Skelton horse up front.
Selection: Third Time Lucki @ 4/7
2.10 – Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m½f)
Last year’s winner Miranda returns with leading claims of repeating for Paul Nicholls with Bryony Frost on board this time. They rate the likeliest winners. Western Victory ran a strange race at Ascot last weekend on first start since joining Emma Lavelle, taking off and establishing a huge lead only to fade tamely. That was over three miles and the others will be cautious not to extend such a helping hand down in trip.
ANNA BUNINA was fifth at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day in a race won by rapid improver Tommy’s Oscar. The Irish mare should strip fitter now and could make the most of the weight she gets from the aforementioned duo for shrewd trainer John McConnell.
Selection: Anna Bunina @ 7/2
2.45 – Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m½f)
Another wide open contest on Town Moor. Recent maiden winners Bridge North and Mahler Mission have more on their hands now, while Not At Present is thriving for Ben Pauling and worth a crack in this higher grade. Unanswered Prayers should stay this far and is just about the form pick but COOLBANE BOY has quickly upped his game since joining Sandy Thomson. He had lots to spare at Musselburgh over this trip four weeks ago in a handicap and merits a crack at a prize of this ilk with that run in mind.
Selection: Coolbane Boy @ 11/2
3.20 – Sky Bet Handicap Chase (Listed, 3m)
Lots of chances in the feature, with Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase winner Fusil Raffles chief amongst them back up in trip for Nicky Henderson. Debece is one to note on seasonal bow having gone close in his only start after moving to Dan Skelton last season. He’s had a wind op since. Hill Sixteen is one that could outrun his price but so, too, is STORM CONTROL.
Kerry Lee’s charge returned to winning ways under this 10lb claimer at Newbury 10 days ago and has in the past been able to back up such an effort quickly. He’s still handicapped to go well on his best form and the front-runner won’t crack easily.
Selection: Storm Control @ 18/1
3.55 – Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Open NH Flat Race (2m½f)
An interesting bumper to round things off. Nicky Henderson’s rules debutant Bold Reaction won an Irish point in the autumn and could be set for a big effort but OUR MARTY is given a chance to progress from November’s debut here in a Junior Bumper over 1m5f. At one stage he looked like he might get completely detached but he stayed on encouragingly to be second to a rival with experience. Lucinda Russell’s charge should build on that and with his 4YO allowance and Alan Doyle’s claim, he is getting 20lb from the Seven Barrows candidate here.
Selection: Our Marty @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing.