17:05 Doncaster

Sunday 2 April 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Groundstaff Appreciation Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 1m 4.14s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Spoof¹³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁷⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 77| D

20/1

Winless since mid-2021 and ran down the field both starts after joining this yard late last year. Has dropped to potentially lenient mark but others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 573098-

(10)

Stone Of Destiny^p³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 75| C| D

9/1

Tricky sort ran well on second outing for this yard when runner-up over at Southwell in December but he hasn't threatened to take advantage of a falling mark since. Nevertheless, would hold serious claims if on a going day so can't be fully discounted .

Form: 26-6564

(7)

Good Luck Fox¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 74| D

11/1

Landed back-to-back wins over this trip at Nottingham and Catterick last term. Ended last season in a bit of a lull but is now only 1 lb above last winning mark and he's not discounted if sharp enough after absence here.

Form: 911640-

(5)

Majeski Man³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 72

7/2

Runner-up 4 times since switching to this yard last summer. Possibly needed run when ninth of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 30 days ago on return and isn't ruled out with that effort under his belt.

Form: 22228-9

(4)

Burj Malinka¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Murtagh| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 70| D

13/2

Won twice at Hamilton last season and ended campaign with a good effort at Pontefract. Market may act as best guide to expectations on return.

Form: 613062-

(11)

Prospect²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 69

7/2

Won at Thirsk in the first half of 2022 and ran well when a close fifth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle on return (6f, 12/1) 24 days ago. LIkely to be sharper here and rates a leading player from same mark.

Form: 63525-5

(2)

Little Muddy¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Swift| T: S Spencer| OR: 66| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Won at Ayr last July and held form well in defeat after, though she is perhaps more effective over 6f nowadays, so may need a couple of these to falter on return from 158 days off.

Form: 413363-

(6)

High Opinion¹⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Smart| OR: 65| D

9/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Nottingham (5f, soft) in October. Generally progressive last season and has fewer miles on the clock than most in this field, so no surprise to see him improve further this term.

Form: 564214-

(3)

Van Gerwen⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: P T Midgley| OR: 60| D

33/1

Won at Nottingham last season but ended the year badly out of sorts and his recent return at Wolverhampton didn't inspire much confidence of a revival.

Form: 24680-7

(1)

Tantastic⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: D Fentiman| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 57| D

22/1

Arrives here after a couple of disappointing performances (lost all chance at start at Southwell last time) and this race is a stronger contest than he ususal contests, so is opposable on balance.

Form: 4288-89

Non-Runners

(9)

Ballyare³⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Majeski Man (7/2), Prospect (7/2), High Opinion (9/2), Burj Malinka (13/2), Little Muddy (7/1), Stone Of Destiny (9/1), Good Luck Fox (11/1), Ballyare (16/1), Spoof (20/1), Tantastic (22/1), Van Gerwen (33/1)

A typically competitive sprint handicap. PROSPECT only emptied late on returning at Newcastle last month and, with the benefit of that recent run under his belt, gets the nod ahead of the less-exposed High Opinion. The majority of the field hold some sort of frame claim, with Good Luck Fox perhaps of most interest of the remainder.