15:07 Doncaster

Friday 13 December 2024

All11:4012:1512:1712:5013:2513:5714:3215:07

New Years Eve Gala Ball Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:09 | Winning time: 4m 16.28s

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Selected odds by:

Ruby Island²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 112

8/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and won first 2 starts over hurdles last season. Didn't kick on but is worth monitoring in the betting on first start (off 9 months) since leaving Mark Walford.

Form: 41127/7-

Gentleman Bill³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 111| D

10/11

Winning pointer who landed a Newcastle bumper on Rules debut in April and stepped up on hurdling debut to land a novice at Bangor a month ago. More to come and looks a big player.

Form: U11-31

Scots Poet^t¹¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 109| DWS

20/1

Returned to winning ways at Musselburgh on New Year's Day and bounced back from a poor run when finding plenty to score at Perth. Subsequent efforts suggest the assessor has his about right and he may need this.

Form: 01-4040

Two Auld Pals³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| BF| D

5/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat and scored over hurdles at Hexham in March. Below form next time but arrives on the back of a solid run on the level, so needs considering.

Form: 2231-6

Bathgate¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 98| D

10/3

5/1, career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Should go well again.

Form: 975241

Marty Mcfly³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 97| BF

12/1

Struck at the second time of asking for Sandy Thomson in 2m Perth handicap in June but needs to shrug off a disappointing effort at Kelso since.

Form: 287-410

Ebony Jade²⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 93

50/1

Just poor form over hurdles in Ireland but bumper effort does give him some scope for better starting out for a new yard after 8 months off.

Form: 400000-

Call Him Now⁶²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 89

50/1

Maiden Irish pointer who hasn't featured over hurdles yet and has a long absence to overcome on handicap debut.

Form: P59967/

Forecasts

Gentleman Bill (10/11), Bathgate (10/3), Two Auld Pals (5/1), Ruby Island (8/1), Marty Mcfly (12/1), Scots Poet (20/1), Call Him Now (50/1), Ebony Jade (50/1)

GENTLEMAN BILL is three from four (including point win) completed starts and showed a good attitude at Bangor last time, so he's marginally preferred to fellow last-time-out winner Bathgate in what could be a tightly-knit affair. Two Auld Pals should also be on the premises.