17:20 Doncaster

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Apprentice Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 21.39s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Val Bassett^v²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70

5/1

Fairly useful winner in France who continued to fall in the weights for his current yard last season. In first-time visor, failed to build on the promise of his fourth at Thirsk when never involved at Redcar in August, but he's not discounted on his return.

Form: 707648-

(8)

Big Bear Hug¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Alice Bond⁽⁷⁾| T: A West| OR: 69

17/2

Off the mark at Leicester last May and, in first-time cheekpieces, doubled her tally at Newmarket (8f, soft) in November. Below form at Kempton on her final outing, but conditions should suit after 4 month-absence (headgear left off but she ran well first time up last year).

Form: 416317-

(11)

Molly Valentine³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ethan Jones⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 68

13/2

Improved when winning handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) in April last year and backed up that effort when making the frame next 2 starts. However, ended 2023 with a lesser run and went backwards from her reappearance at Lingfield last month. Others more persuasive.

Form: 1340-60

(5)

Orange Martini^h1³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Baz Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hodgson| OR: 67

33/1

Made the frame twice in handicaps for Andrew Balding last year, but after 3 months off she possibly needed the run on her stable debut when sixth of 7 at Kempton (12f) in February. Hood now reached for as she drops back in trip.

Form: 63450-6

(4)

Clipsham Gold^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Molly Gunn⁽⁵⁾| T: S G West| OR: 64

40/1

Sixteen runs since her last win in 2023 and ran poorly on first start since leaving Dylan Cunha when failing to beat a rival at Southwell (8.1f) 13 days ago. Others make more appeal as she goes back up in trip with the hood reapplied.

Form: 425430

(9)

Chagall²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽³⁾| T: Jack Jones| OR: 63| D

8/1

Ended 2023 on a high, making it back-to-back wins with success at Lingfield (12f) in December. Has been shaping up well this year, needing a stronger gallop when runner-up at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 3 weeks agao. Not taken lightly.

Form: 1-37442

(12)

Destinado^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S D Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 61| BF| D

4/1

Has thrived since joining his current yard, recording a fourth win of the year when scoring in good style at Southwell (11.1f) in February. Has run well both starts since, only narrowly denied at the same C&D a week ago. Major player with the visor back on.

Form: 164142

(3)

Eleven Eleven^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke Catton| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 61

11/1

Had dropped to a career-low mark and took advantage when winning at Newcastle on 2 of his first 3 starts of the year. Quickly left behind a lesser efffort when a close third at the same course (7.1f) 15 days ago, so he's one to consider back up in trip.

Form: 5-17143

(1)

Fen Tiger²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Sam Feilden⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 57

15/2

Three-time winner of 12f handicaps (all on ground softer than good) in 2022 and returned to form on his final 2 starts last season, hitting the crossbar at Carlisle and Brighton. Task is now to pick up where he left off on his reappearance.

Form: 757822-

(2)

Zambezi Magic^h⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Archie Young⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 54| D

15/2

Won twice at Ffos Las (both 10f) in summer 2022 but has been below that level since returning from almost year off the track, ninth of 11 at Kempton (11f) last time. Continues to fall in the weights without looking like taking advantage.

Form: 0805-49

(6)

Corsican Caper^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jack Enright⁽⁷⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 48

8/1

Finally opened his account in minor event at Southwell (12.1f) in January. However, he hasn't gone on from that effort since, 6 lengths eighth of 10 to Destinado in handicap at the same course (11.1f) 25 days ago. Cheekpieces need to help spark a return to form.

Form: 9-18868

Non-Runners

(10)

Vecchio¹⁸

Weight: 9-13| Age: 4

T: S Dixon J: Andrea Pinna

Forecasts

Destinado (4/1), Val Bassett (5/1), Molly Valentine (13/2), Fen Tiger (15/2), Zambezi Magic (15/2), Chagall (8/1), Corsican Caper (8/1), Big Bear Hug (17/2), Eleven Eleven (11/1), Vecchio (25/1), Orange Martini (33/1), Clipsham Gold (40/1)

DESTINADO has been in fine form on the all-weather this year, winning 4 times and pulling clear of the rest when runner-up at Southwell last week, so he is taken to add to his tally back on turf. Chagall hasn't been seen to best effect on his last couple of starts and is respected, while Eleven Eleven is another who enters calculations.