12:00 Doncaster

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:20

bet365.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 3m 59.85s

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Selected odds by:

Brotherly Company¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 122| D

50/1

The last time he was in this class of contest he was successful at Kempton in May 2016 and he wasn't beaten far off this mark at Newton Abbot last May. Conditions ideal for him and he is interesting on his first start for this trainer.

Form: 529-F38

Ink Master^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122| D

16/1

Yet to win since joining this in-form stable, for whom he has not shown the form that he was over fences earlier in the year for Philip Hobbs. Conditions/trip ideal for him and he has won from 6lb higher over fences. Could get more closely involved.

Form: 16P367

One For Billy^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ian Popham| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

9/2

Arrives in good form after winning at Warwick last time from a mark that had seen him beaten a couple of times previously. Stuck his neck out well to win off a hold-up ride there and surely more to come, so 7lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 33-1931

Helmsley Lad³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 115| D

9/1

Sedgefield bumper winner who has lost his way a little over hurdles at a variety of trips from 2m-2m7½f. That does at least mean that his mark is on the slide and he comes into this off his lowest one yet, dropped in trip. Could do better this time.

Form: 1324-56

Cape Hideaway^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 115

25/1

Reasonably consistent over hurdles, his sole win being at Hexham (2m4f, good) in May when 9lb lower. Pulled up on heavy ground when returning from a break back at that track last time. Good ground will help, though has a bit to prove at this trip.

Form: 32-214P

Eskendash²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 115

3/1

Has shown some promise in both starts over hurdles, being 18L fourth behind an impressive winner at Wetherby (2m, soft) and 7L third in a Huntingdon maiden (2m, good to soft) last time. Initial mark looks fair and he is not ruled out.

Form: 2222-43

Crackdeloust¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 115| D

11/2

Looks the part but has so far failed to deliver on several occasions, his sole success coming in a Sedgefield novices' hurdle (2m1f, good) in April. Drops 2lb going into this and can't be written off yet, but has a few questions to answer.

Form: 51-33F4

Buyer Beware³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 115

33/1

Was beaten just 1¼L from a mark of 120 when with Gordon Elliott last year, but not in same form for this yard so far. Hinted slightly at a revival at Musselburgh last time, though not enough to have us rushing to wager this time.

Form: 44230-6

Castafiore^p,h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 112

7/1

Won a fillies' juvenile event at Ludlow (2m, soft) in January but held by handicapper since. Tried to make all over 2m3f last time and was collared for second close home. Possibilities dropped back in trip and from a 2lb lower mark.

Form: F16P-53

Gran Maestro^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 105| D

11/1

Not as good as he was and now 22lb lower than when landing a Listed event in 2015, on account of the 20-race losing run since. Went well from 10lb higher at Wetherby in October, but not sure route back to winners' enclosure is over this trip.

Form: 244607

Back To Balloo⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 105| D

40/1

Veteran who recorded his first handicap hurdle success at Hexham (2m, good) in June from today's mark. Held by handicapper since then, but could do better today now dropped back to this rating and with 7lb claimer up.

Form: 154690

Pumaflor²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 100

12/1

Yet to win beyond 1m on the Flat and that is a concern in terms of his stamina even over this minimum trip over hurdles. Made frame in moderate novices' contest at Huntingdon in October and mark looks fair, but has that stamina question to answer.

Form: P/306

Quill Art²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96| CD

20/1

1-15 over hurdles, that sole win being over C&D (good to soft) last year from 1lb higher. Best effort when beaten 2L at Catterick from 4lb higher in February, but has not come close to that form since and has a fair bit to prove, despite good mark.

Form: 03U89-F

Forecasts

Eskendash (3/1), One For Billy (9/2), Crackdeloust (11/2), Castafiore (7/1), Helmsley Lad (9/1), Gran Maestro (11/1), Pumaflor (12/1), Ink Master (16/1), Quill Art (20/1), Cape Hideaway (25/1), Buyer Beware (33/1), Back To Balloo (40/1), Brotherly Company (50/1)

A tricky start for punters, with doubts over most of the field in one way or another and the suggestion is BACK TO BALLOO. Back on a winning mark and with an extra 7lb off his back, he has conditions to suit and should go very close. At the other end of the age spectrum, both Eskendash and Castafiore have claims, while Helmsley Lad and One For Billy are others likely to be involved at the business end.