13:30 Doncaster

Wednesday 21 February 2024

All13:3014:0514:3515:0515:4016:1516:50

SBK EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 11.5s

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Selected odds by:

Best Life⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs M Rowley

150/1

First past the post on his second run between the flags last spring but yet to make an impact over hurdles and looks a longer-term prospect.

Form: 41-49

Cave Article¹²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

80/1

€26,000 3-y-o, Court Cave gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 25f) Casey Jones. Runner-up completed start in points and is worth a check in the market on Rules debut.

Form: P-2

Cave Bleu²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Mackie

250/1

Showed more than previously when third in small-field bumper at Market Rasen in May but offered little in either start in this sphere.

Form: 40-38P

Clatterbridge⁶⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs Stella Barclay

200/1

Won a small-field Irish point in May 2022. Absent since ahead of this switch to hurdles for new connections. Likely best watched.

Form: PF/1-

Entity Of Substanz²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/1

Boasts an appealing pedigree and ran with promise when seventh of 16 in novice hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) on debut 29 days ago. Should improve and he looks sure to be suited by the step up in trip.

Form: 7

Gentleman's Relish⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

11/2

Much improved when winning 13-runner Newbury bumper in November. Made a disappointing start to his hurdle career when pulled up at Kempton on Boxing Day but the fact he went off favourite suggests he's well regarded by his top yard. Not taken lightly.

Form: 0-1P

Ginger Jonny^t¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

22/1

Irish point winner but sent off at 25/1 when remote sixth of 16 on Chepstow hurdle debut in October. Will need to leave that form well behind.

Form: 1-6

Grand Albert⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

15/2

Winning Irish pointer who offered something to work on when second of 5 in bumper at Bangor on Rules debut in December. Ran to just a modest level on Market Rasen hurdles debut since but it's still early days.

Form: 31-23

Jukebox Fury

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

4/1

€80,000 3-y-o, Jukebox Jury gelding. Closely related to a winner, and half-brother to numerous winners, including smart hurdler/top-class chaser Don Poli. Interesting newcomer.

Form:

Kentanddover²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

150/1

Shaped encouragingly when fourth in Doncaster bumper in March 2022 but clearly had issues and was having his first start since when well held at Huntingdon on hurdles bow last month.

Form: 4/0

Leader In The Park⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

4/6

Cost £250,000 after making a winning start to his point career in February and shaped promisingly when second in Ascot novice (21.6f) on hurdles debut in November. Not in same form latest but remains open to improvement and hails from a yard in fine form.

Form: 1-26

Mythe Bridge³²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: H D Daly

150/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding. Brother to fair 21f hurdle winner Bells On Sunday, and closely related to useful hurdler Top Bandit. Out the frame in 3 starts in points and is likely one for the longer term.

Form: 675-

Paris Cercy^p1,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies

200/1

Half-brother to pretty useful hurdler Parisencore but failed to win in points and sent off at 150/1 when well beaten in Kelso novice hurdle on last month's Rules debut. First-time cheekpieces need to make a big difference.

Form: 22/P5-P7

The Dark Edge³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon

250/1

Yet to trouble the judge in a couple of starts in bumpers or over hurdles.

Form: 9756

Cotoneaster^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Noel Williams

150/1

Modest form in 2 bumpers/hurdles. Looks more one for handicaps. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 85-09

Non-Runners

Jagwar²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Leader In The Park (4/6), Jagwar (9/4), Jukebox Fury (4/1), Gentleman's Relish (11/2), Grand Albert (15/2), Entity Of Substanz (10/1), Ginger Jonny (22/1), Cave Article (80/1), Best Life (150/1), Mythe Bridge (150/1), Kentanddover (150/1), Cotoneaster (150/1), Clatterbridge (200/1), Paris Cercy (200/1), The Dark Edge (250/1), Cave Bleu (250/1)

There should be more to come from ENTITY OF SUBSTANZ, particularly now granted a stiffer test of stamina, and he gets the nod in the opener. Gentleman's Relish and Leader In The Park are feared most.