15:30 Doncaster

Thursday 6 February 2020

All13:2313:5314:2314:5515:3016:0416:40

Betsafe Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 3m 57.1s

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Selected odds by:

Avarchie^h¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: Martin Smith

14/1

Already won for two different trainers taking a bumper for John Butler and a novice hurdle for Dan Skelton. Now with another new yard having been fortunate to win his hurdle (left clear last); ought to improve but does have a penalty to carry.

Form:

Buzz³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

13/8

Useful sort on the Flat for Hughie Morrison at up to 1m4f and duly landed some good wagers on his Taunton hurdles debut (won by a neck from subsequent Grade 2 winner). Open to plenty of improvement and should make a bold bid to defy penalty.

Form:

Glory And Fortune^h⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 135

5/4

Won his first two races, a bumper and novice hurdle before being defeated but not disgraced in stronger contests since. This return to slightly calmer waters should allow him to progress further; carries a penalty.

Form:

Ace Cheetah¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Jenkins

250/1

Made little impact in bumpers and it's been the same story over hurdles where he's twice been beaten 40L plus. Hard to make a case for him here on that evidence.

Form:

Blistering Bob^h¹⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

25/1

Newcomer from a yard that should always be respected in this sort and he was fairly useful for Roger Teal on the Flat. Apparently had a few schooling issues and it may well be that he's best watched on this occasion.

Form:

Borodin²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

150/1

Useful sort on the Flat when with Richard Fahey he's shown little so far over hurdles including over C&D on his debut in this company. Produced a laboured effort last time and needs to find more.

Form:

Eyeofthescorpion²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

66/1

Shaped with encouragement on his hurdling/racecourse debut doing well for one with so little experience. Back 4f in trip this less demanding trip may suit him better and he's one to keep an eye on.

Form:

Felix D'autry³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

50/1

Second on his bumper debut (only run in that sphere) he's looked one for the longer term since being switched to hurdles. Needs this run for a handicap mark and that's where his future will lie.

Form:

Flou Artsistique^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

80/1

Fourth on his only bumper outing when trained in France his two hurdles outings in GB for this yard have been rather underwhelming. Never involved last time it won't be a surprise to see him do better in handicaps.

Form:

Get Real⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: P A KirbyWS

100/1

Managed a place in a point-to-point before making an inauspicious start over hurdle for Henry Oliver. Now makes his debut for a new yard following a wind op; little expected on this occasion.

Form:

Inexorable²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Olly Williams

150/1

Looked to be going the wrong way in his bumper starts losing his place easily when last seen in that discipline. Showed nothing on his hurdling debut at Wetherby; easily opposed.

Form:

Kannapolis¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

100/1

Winner on the Flat at up to 1m2f he now goes hurdling for a new outfit and makes his debut for them here. Should be suited by this test and one of the newcomers to keep an eye on.

Form:

Mcgarry³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby

50/1

Shown ability on both his hurdles starts when with Henry Oliver and now makes his debut for a new yard. Looked unsuited by the 2m trip last time and he'll be of more interest in handicaps over a longer distance once he has a mark.

Form:

Noble Behest²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| BF| D

25/1

Progressed well on the Flat recording an AW hat-trick over the winter at up to 2m and continued in good form when last seen on the level. Stable won this race last year and he's well worth paying attention to in the market.

Form:

South Seas²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

6/1

Useful but quirky sort on the Flat he's taken well to hurdling although he was well held in stronger company at Kempton. Looked suited by a sharp test at Ludlow last time and this more galloping 2m may not be as suitable.

Form:

A New Siege^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

50/1

Well held on her only start in bumpers she showed more promise when sent hurdling eight weeks later despite an SP of 100-1. Entitled to progress from that run but may need a little more experience before she's fully involved.

Form:

Hello Bob^h¹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S DrinkwaterWS

50/1

Failed to match the form that she showed when winning a Musselburgh bumper for James Bethell last March over hurdles in two attempts for this yard. Now tried in a hood worn for her bumper win; returns from a wind op.

Form:

Lightening Dance⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

66/1

Showed some aptitude for hurdling when contesting an Aintree novice on her debut (wore a hood). Went backwards when last seen in this sphere though with her jumping leaving a lot to be desired at Catterick.

Form:

Forecasts

Glory And Fortune (5/4), Buzz (13/8), South Seas (6/1), Avarchie (14/1), Noble Behest (25/1), Blistering Bob (25/1), A New Siege (50/1), Hello Bob (50/1), Felix D'autry (50/1), Mcgarry (50/1), Lightening Dance (66/1), Eyeofthescorpion (66/1), Flou Artsistique (80/1), Kannapolis (100/1), Get Real (100/1), Inexorable (150/1), Borodin (150/1), Ace Cheetah (250/1)

A big field but plenty of these will be aiming for handicaps marks and it’s one of the penalised runners in BUZZ who holds an excellent chance of following up his initial Taunton success with that form having been nicely franked already. Glory And Fortune remains one who we can be positive about and he will appreciate this ease in grade. Of the newcomers Noble Behest from last year’s winning stable is respected especially as he’s been in good form on the AW of late. South Seas may find this test too demanding as he looks to need a sharp track to show his best. Of the others A New Siege and Eyeofthescorpion are worth watching for the future.