13:25 Doncaster

Friday 26 January 2018

All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

Sky Bet Fast Withdrawal British EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 4m 49.8s

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Selected odds by:

Almost Gold³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

125/1

Well held in both starts so far in an Ascot maiden hurdle (2m4f, good to soft) and a Newbury novices' hurdle (2m4½f, soft) and looks one to watch on that evidence.

Form: 97

Coisa Blanco¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill

200/1

22-1 for his debut here over 2m5f (soft) earlier in the month and went well enough for quite some way before weakening out of it. Shorter trip not certain to suit on pedigree and he looks one to take a watching brief over.

Form: 6

Cracking Destiny^h³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

9/2

Irish point-to-point winner who cost £100,000 and has been beaten favourite in both his bumpers. Improved significantly on his first effort at Ludlow last time (1m6f, soft) and this trip looks ideal for hurdles debut. Should go well.

Form: 1-94

Doctor Tiger^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N P Madden| T: Jack Barber

66/1

Took him six attempts to get off the mark between the flags and not a huge amount of encouragement in his debut in a Worcester bumper (good to firm) in October. One to watch this time.

Form: PP2-213

Frozen Flame¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

50/1

Improved significantly on his Huntingdon debut when a 19½L fourth here over 2m5f (soft) earlier in the month. Another step forward like that would put him in the picture here and return to this trip no major concern. Market check suggested.

Form: 2-64

Going Gold³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: R Hobson

6/1

Has shown promise on both starts, the latter his hurdles debut at Wetherby over Christmas (2m, soft), when 19½L fourth of 12th in quite a good race. Should be capable of finding more over this longer trip and not ruled out.

Form: 138-24

King Of Realms¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 128| BF

3/1

Decent bumper performer who scored on debut at Ascot (good to soft) last season. Has bettered than in both hurdle runs with yet winning. Went close to doing so at Taunton (2m3f, soft) last time and is very much one for the short-list.

Form: 130-22

Oakley Hall³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

6/1

Won a Punchestown bumper for Gordon Elliott last year and showed plenty of promise on his hurdles/stable debut for this yard at Ascot (2m3½f, good to soft) in November. Back at that trip today he has claims.

Form: 221-36

Perfect Harmony⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 123| BF

2/1

Newbury bumper winner (soft) who was 13L sixth in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at last year's Festival. Looks like a capable hurdler on the evidence of two runs this season and it will be a surprise if he is not involved in the shake-up.

Form: F10-42

Present Ranger²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

25/1

Showed a bit of promise on debut in a Newbury maiden hurdle (2m½f, soft) last month, though not as good back there behind a smart performer last time. Longer trip should help elicit improvement and you couldn't rule out much closer involvement.

Form: 2-53

That's Life⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards

66/1

Ran well for quite a long way on debut in a bumper here in December. Will be well versed ahead of this hurdles debut over a more suitable trip and a market check looks prudent.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Perfect Harmony (2/1), King Of Realms (3/1), Cracking Destiny (9/2), Going Gold (6/1), Oakley Hall (6/1), Present Ranger (25/1), Frozen Flame (50/1), Doctor Tiger (66/1), That's Life (66/1), Almost Gold (125/1), Coisa Blanco (200/1)

One or two promising sorts involved in this and PERFECT HARMONY is the suggestion. Alan King's gelding has performed with credit in his two starts to date and gives there impression that there is a fair bit more to come. King Of Realms has taken well to jumping obstacles and looks a danger, while Oakley Hall and newcomer Cracking Destiny are likely to be able to make their presence felt. Present Ranger, That's Life and Going Gold are further interesting contenders.