12:15 Doncaster

Tuesday 10 January 2023

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Taj's Time To Design 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (Conditional/Amateurs)

Off time: 12:16 | Winning time: 6m 21.5s

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Selected odds by:

The Composeur^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Jack Wilmot⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 102| D

12/1

Has won over hurdles and fences from higher marks than this but he wasn't at the top of his game when last seen in November. Stable won a division of this race 12 months ago.

Form: P5-P244

Bird On The Wire^b1,t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: William Maggs⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 101| CD

7/1

Won a division of this race last year and recorded another good effort over this C&D when third in November. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces. One to consider.

Form: 362253

Design Icon^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Kai Lenihan| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 101

18/1

Won a 20.5f Market Rasen novice hurdle (20.5f) in May 2021 but no impact in 2 handicaps since returning from a long absence. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 94/51-69

Choungaya^p,t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Ellis Collier| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 100

100/1

Successful over hurdles/fences for Joseph O'Brien in Ireland but he hasn't shown anything in 4 handicap chases since joining present yard. Can only be watched back hurdling.

Form: 805P-FP

Welsh's Castle^b,t⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr I Herbert⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 99| D

40/1

Fair form over hurdles at the start of his career but has largely struggled since. Did run a bit better with blinkers added when fourth over fences at Wincanton last time but not well enough to fancy his chances here.

Form: 433-2P4

Flying Verse^b,t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Dylan Kitts| T: David Dennis| OR: 98| D

18/1

Had a good spell over fences after wind surgery in the summer, winning at Stratford (22.5f) and Musselburgh (4m) in the autumn. Shaped a bit better his remote fifth at Taunton over Christmas might suggest. First hurdle start since summer 2021.

Form: 332115

Rickety Gate⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Amy Corrado⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 98| D

17/2

Returned in fine form this autumn, justifying strong support at Kelso (21f) in October and following up in good style at Musselburgh (3m) in November. Has to be of interest in hat-trick bid.

Form: 382-811

First Man^t,v⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr George Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 93

28/1

Won 3 of his final 4 starts in 2020/21 season but not seen again until 2 poor efforts this autumn. Can only be watched for the time being.

Form: 1131/0P

Braganza Bay³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alice Stevens| T: H D Daly| OR: 93| BF

15/2

Responded to first-time cheekpieces when taking 9-runner handicap hurdle at Hereford (25.5f, soft) in November but the headgear didn't work anywhere near as well at Taunton the following month and is left off now. Bounce back needed.

Form: 4-PP918

Kings Creek^t,v⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss Natalya Irvine⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 92| D

20/1

Largely consistent sort who scored over 3m at Southwell in May but has been below par in recent starts. Others are preferred.

Form: 214760

Welsh Reign^t1⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D B Hurst| T: Paula Smith| OR: 92| D

50/1

Placed twice over fences for Tim Reed last season but beaten a long way in 2 handicap chases for current stable in November. Tongue strap reached for now back hurdling.

Form: 432P-47

The Blame Game⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 91

33/1

Both hurdle wins gained over 2½m at Sedgefield, the latter in August 2021. Has struggled since finishing second at Musselburgh last November, pulling up the last twice. Plenty to prove.

Form: 269-8PP

Fantomas⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Turner⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 90| D

12/1

Fortunate to score over fences at Uttoxeter in September. Respectable in-frame efforts in chase/hurdle at Ludlow since. Hard to argue he has anything in hand of his mark.

Form: 4P-P134

Aazza³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 90| D

7/2

Fair hurdles winner. Didn't progress in handicap chases on first 3 outings this term but she was back on track when second in a Newcastle handicap hurdle last month. That form boosted by the winner going in again since. Much respected off the same mark.

Form: 75-3U42

The Wise Traveller⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B Roberts| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 88| D

10/3

Returned from 5 months off with win in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Fontwell in August and back from another break with a fine second at Wincanton (3m) last month. Put up another 5 lb for that but still one of the more likely types here.

Form: 36PP-12

Nechako⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Claire Cobbold⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 88

66/1

Some promise in maiden/novice events at Cartmel this summer but well beaten in handicaps for Jimmy Moffatt since. Has switched yards since last seen 9 days ago.

Form: 535780

Young Moloney⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P W Wadge| T: D Bourke| OR: 87

18/1

Runner-up on Cartmel handicap debut in July but took a couple of backward steps on return from a break in November. Still early days but others arrive with stronger claims.

Form: 5F-2276

Ali Star Bert¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽³⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 85

28/1

Opened his account in 23f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in autumn 2021 but has pulled up in a hurdle/chase this winter.

Form: 6164-PP

The Skiffle King¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Lewis Dobb| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 78

40/1

Poor form in bumpers/over hurdles, finishing down the field on Market Rasen handicap debut on Boxing Day.

Form: 88-4099

Forecasts

The Wise Traveller (10/3), Aazza (7/2), Bird On The Wire (7/1), Braganza Bay (15/2), Rickety Gate (17/2), Fantomas (12/1), The Composeur (12/1), Young Moloney (18/1), Design Icon (18/1), Flying Verse (18/1), Kings Creek (20/1), First Man (28/1), Ali Star Bert (28/1), The Blame Game (33/1), The Skiffle King (40/1), Welsh's Castle (40/1), Welsh Reign (50/1), Nechako (66/1), Choungaya (100/1)

AAZZA's latest Newcastle second received a boost when the winner followed up at Fontwell over Christmas so Rose Dobbin's charge may be capable of going one better off the same mark. The hat-trick seeking Rickety Gate, last year's winner Bird On The Wire and Charlie Longsdon's The Wise Traveller head the dangers.