12:20 Doncaster

Wednesday 10 January 2024

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (Conditional And Amateur Jockeys')

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 6m 25.5s

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Selected odds by:

Iron Horse^p⁴⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Atkins⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 98

40/1

Runner-up on last 2 completed starts in this sphere but he's now 13 years of age and was tailed off in a handicap chase at Uttoxeter back from a break in November.

Form: 2P/2F-37

Rickety Gate⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr William Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 96| BF| D

12/1

Won pair of handicaps in autumn 2022 and arrives on the back of 3 successive placed efforts in 3m handicaps, the latest when second of 11 at Musselburgh 6 weeks ago. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: F0-6232

Faha Belle²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Daire Davis| T: F O'Brien| OR: 96| D

10/1

Irish point winner who has yet better modest form in bumpers and novice hurdles but no surprise were she to fare better now handicapping. Check the betting.

Form: 1-52R84

Townhill^p1,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Ben Sutton| T: T Lacey| OR: 95| D

5/2

Point winner who has shown promise in both handicaps 8 months apart. rallying to finish third of 15 over 21.5f at Exeter 20 days ago. Return to 3m will suit. Has first-time cheekpieces added to regular tongue tie. Might prove the answer.

Form: 4507-43

Little Talks^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ms Laura Ward⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 93

40/1

Runner-up only start in Irish points. Only poor form in maiden/novice hurdles (beaten 21 lengths when third at Fakenham latest) but does rate a possible improver now handicapping over further.

Form: 2P53

Sadie Hill^t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 88

25/1

Struggled over fences this autumn but nicely treated if a return to hurdles sparks a revival having dropped back to the mark she won off at Ffos Las in April.

Form: 81-48UP

Derwent Dealer^p1³⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: William Maggs| T: D Brooke| OR: 83

25/1

Just modest in bumpers and well held both completed starts over hurdles. More chance in handicaps but his opening mark demands improvement. Cheekpieces also go on.

Form: 7/4P68-

I'm On My Way²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 83

13/2

Improved to make a successful handicap debut over 2½m at Wincanton last month, proving suited by the step up in trip. Could have more to come now tackling 3m. Needs considering.

Form: 3P0/071

Dequall^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Oscar Palmer⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 82

18/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. 12/1, fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Hexham (23f, heavy) 28 days ago. Needs to step up on recent efforts.

Form: 353/385

Baby Sham⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Paddy Barlow| T: J W Mullins| OR: 81

22/1

Won at Fakenham (2½m) and Fontwell (3¼m) at the start of the season. Below-form fourth at Plumpton in 2 runs since returning from a break but has been cut a bit of slack by the handicapper.

Form: 213P44

Pipers Cross^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 79| BF

4/1

Modest maiden hurdler for Sandy Forster. Made a decent start for new trainer Robbie Llewellyn when second of 7 in 23f Bangor handicap 19 days ago. Cheekpieces go on now. Could have more to offer for her new yard. On the shortlist.

Form: 32-8432

Poppop³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Adam O'Shea⁽³⁾| T: J T Stimpson| OR: 79

6/1

Poor maiden hurdler but has shown he can be competitive from his mark when reaching the frame at Market Rasen and Ludlow (both around 3m) in recent months. More will be needed to gain a first win here, though.

Form: 647643

Smart Connection¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Clara Brewitt⁽⁵⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 78

80/1

Left his previous hurdles form behind when causing an 80/1 upset at Cartmel) in August but no big surprise that he's failed to back that up at Market Rasen on his 2 outings since.

Form: 456179

Harkangel²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Cameron Iles| T: T R Gretton| OR: 75

17/2

Some promise when fourth of 14 in 21f Sedgefield handicap on reappearance in November but comfortably held at Ffos Las since. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 346-46

Lough Salt^p⁹¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Courtney Peet⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 74| CD

33/1

Successful twice in 3m handicap chases here in early-2022. Form patchy since but he did go close over fences at Sedgefield when last seen in October. First hurdle start since 2019.

Form: U62662

Non-Runners

Post Chaise⁴⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Mr George Cowley

Reine Fee⁴¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 11

T: G Brown J: Isabelle Ryder

Robeam¹⁹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: M Mullineaux J: James Turner

Forecasts

Townhill (5/2), Pipers Cross (4/1), Poppop (6/1), Post Chaise (6/1), I'm On My Way (13/2), Harkangel (17/2), Faha Belle (10/1), Rickety Gate (12/1), Dequall (18/1), Baby Sham (22/1), Derwent Dealer (25/1), Sadie Hill (25/1), Lough Salt (33/1), Reine Fee (33/1), Little Talks (40/1), Robeam (40/1), Iron Horse (40/1), Smart Connection (80/1)

The unexposed TOWNHILL might prove the answer to this competitive opener. The way Tom Lacey's charge rallied for third in a big field at Exeter last month suggests he could have more to come now stepping back up to around 3m. Pipers Cross made a sound start for Robbie Llewellyn when second at Bangor and could have more to offer for her new yard so she's second choice ahead of I'm On My Way and the consistent Rickety Gate.