14:55 Doncaster

Friday 13 December 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Richard Fahey: Take The Reins Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 0.45s

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Selected odds by:

Talktomenow²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W Greatrex| OR: 117

16/1

Has struggled over hurdles since his debut at Plumpton in November 2018; let down by jumping once again last time out at Uttoxeter in May but maybe worth a check in the market.

Form: 12054-4

Floating Rock¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 116

13/2

Took a good ground Catterick bumper backing in February and seems to be slowly getting the hang of hurdling; finished a fair second at Taunton in November and looks to be going the right way; one for the shortlist.

Form: 1-562

Fort Denison²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 113

9/1

Fair maiden on the Flat when trained in Ireland by Charles O'Brien and has produced two fair hurdles performances to date including when runner-up last time out at Plumpton in November; one to consider on handicap debut.

Form: 42

Over Stated^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 112

7/1

Point-to-point winner back in 2017 and did show a degree of ability in two hurdles starts for this yard that year; returned last month and was not disgraced when placed over hurdles at Warwick; more needed but no forlorn hope.

Form: UF156/3

El Kaldoun¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112| BF

11/4

Had some fair bumper form and has been brought on steadily over hurdles with a decent effort at Newbury last March looking the pick; warmed up for this contest with a recent run at Kempton and should be sharper here.

Form: 1476-5

Aloomomo⁶⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 111

14/1

Tailed off when last seen out at Ayr in April 2018; yet to win over hurdles and chase from was just as poor; hard to assess but probably best left alone at present.

Form: 2PP270/

Meteorite²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 110

9/1

Generally consistent but rarely gets into a winning position; latest effort was reasonable at Ffos Las in November but much more needed here to get competitive.

Form: 3473-74

Cathal's Star⁵³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 110

28/1

Not seen out for a long while and has since switched to Nicky Richards; fair chance on old form but difficult to see him being good enough after such a long time off the track.

Form: 5/P52-

Ah Well²⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 109

40/1

Just the two starts to date but showed enough to suggest he would be capable of winning races in time; hard to tell what to expect returning from a break and on his handicap debut but worth a look in the betting.

Form: 33-

Fibonacci²¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 107

14/1

Well beaten on all his three racecourse appearances and hard to see where the improvement will come from to get competitive here.

Form: 046-

Methag²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: A M Hales| OR: 103| BF| C

7/2

Has been consistent on all four hurdles starts and won well at Huntingdon in November before tiring close home when second at Wincanton later the same month; needs to progress but certainly has chances.

Form: 56/26-12

Forecasts

El Kaldoun (11/4), Methag (7/2), Floating Rock (13/2), Over Stated (7/1), Meteorite (9/1), Fort Denison (9/1), Aloomomo (14/1), Fibonacci (14/1), Talktomenow (16/1), Cathal's Star (28/1), Ah Well (40/1)

Nicky Henerson's EL KALDOUN has been brought along steadily and may be ready to claim his first win over hurdles. The five-year-old ran a fair race last time out at Kempton on his reappearance and should be all the better for that outing. Floating Rock is another who has been brought on quietly and he showed his well being when finishing a good second at Taunton last time. He is going the right way and should soon be winning. Fort Denison has some fair form on the Flat and showed his liking for hurdles when runner-up last time out at Plumpton. He could go well.