14:38 Doncaster

Friday 24 January 2025

All12:2512:5513:2814:0314:3815:1315:48

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 6m 8.5s

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Selected odds by:

One Eye On Vegas^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 111

12/1

Improved for the fitting of cheekpieces, winning pair of slow-ground handicaps in early 2024. Back on the up when resuming winning ways at Leicester (20.5f) at the end of last year but struggled up in class from 5 lb higher mark 29 days ago. Looks a stayer and 3m could eek out some more improvement.

Form: 34-U616

Punxsutawney Phil^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 109| D

25/1

Doubled his hurdles tally by making all (having got first run) in a 0-105 handicap at Musselburgh (24f) last month. Struggled when back in trip in a better race (last of 6, 19.9f) and while he should be appreciate return to 3m he probably doesn't have much in hand from his current mark.

Form: 67-4216

Copshill Lad^p⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 109| BF

11/2

Placed on 3 of his 5 starts over hurdles last season and justified support after 9 months off when scoring on yard debut at Stratford (22f) in October, needing every inch of the trip. No excuses when fifth (of 9, 24.4f) at Ascot since. Any rain that falls may help bring his stamina into play.

Form: 322P-15

Blue Hop^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 107

11/1

Failed to take to fences in 3 starts last season but steadily improved back in this sphere, third behind a progressive sort at Windsor (20f) 40 days ago and lightly-raced sort would be dangerous to dismiss now tackling staying trips.

Form: 7/P75-63

Fierce Warrior⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 106

11/2

Interesting contender with a standout effort over hurdles (beat smart sort from Alan King Yard at Plumpton in December over 2m4f). Hasn't been seen to best effect on last 3 runs, not disgraced when third over C&D after 7 months off and entitled to strip fitter for that. Merits consideration.

Form: 1515-73

Rialannah²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 106

9/1

Remains a maiden and failed to justify market support when pulled up at Southwell (heavy) 23 days ago. Up in trip today but needs to bounce back.

Form: 2-4P34P

Ah Whisht^t,p1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 105| D

33/1

Point recruit who was first and second in novice hurdles in early 2023, had wind surgery and tried in tongue tie (back on today) since. Failed to complete on last three starts over hurdles/fences and while yard in decent form, hard to make a strong case for this one in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2/65P-FP

Aquila Sky^t,p⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 105| CD

33/1

C&D winner. Reached the frame 3 times over fences in the first half of 2024 but not in the same form since returning in November and now reverts to hurdles in a bid to get back to form.

Form: 353-45P

Tide Times^p⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105| D

150/1

Failed to complete last 5 starts over fences, slow jump and early reminder before beaten a long way out last time. Hard to fancy back over hurdles.

Form: 1PP-PRP

Spitalfield²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 104| D

28/1

Opened his account at Ffos Las (23.9f) in May but unable to build on that in three runs since. Easy to back seventh of 10 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (26f, soft) 24 days ago and others preferred on the back of that effort.

Form: 64-17F7

Horsesomeharry^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103

13/2

Fitted with cheekpieces and a different proposition on handicap debut/reappearance when successful at Carlisle in November. Made amends for subsequent poor run when good fourth of 9 in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, soft) 29 days ago, shaping as though he'll relish extra distance today.

Form: P66-174

Best Life³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 102| D

9/1

Best effort over hurdles when second on handicap debut at Haydock in March but yet to fire this season, losing his place after a couple of mid-race mistakes before rallying to finish fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (22.2f, heavy) 35 days ago. Rain may help his chances on that evidence.

Form: 4932-P4

Golden Cosmos³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 102

33/1

Ran no sort of race after 22 months off; soon detached, never travelling well, pulled up (34 days ago). Needs to leave that run well behind.

Form: 53543/P

Jack Sprat¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: William Featherstone⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102

5/1

Won two hurdle races at Huntingdon last season and back to form over timber latest when winning a 7-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, heavy) 11 days ago, only pushed out late on. Still relatively unexposed at this sort of distance over hurdles and remains of interest off the same mark today.

Form: 41-5241

Gandhi Maker²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 101| D

66/1

Pulled up on final start for Phil Kirby in April and failed to complete on two starts for new yard this season, was again in the process of running poorly when departing latest. Opposable.

Form: 312-PUU

Burrows Hall⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 101

4/1

Fair winning hurdler at up to 25f. Made a solid start to his chase career after a break when third over 19f at Sedgefield in November followed by fair fourth of 8 in a handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, soft) 52 days ago. Can be competitive without threatening market principals.

Form: 212-534

Mattie Ross²⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 100

66/1

Gained reward for some creditable efforts last season when winning 23f Market Rasen in June. Not in same form when pulled-up on final start of last week and returns from 200-day absence in a warmer race than he has been contesting.

Form: 462-41P

Non-Runners

Velasco⁴¹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 9

T: S Corbett J: Nathan Moscrop

Forecasts

Burrows Hall (4/1), Jack Sprat (5/1), Copshill Lad (11/2), Fierce Warrior (11/2), Horsesomeharry (13/2), Rialannah (9/1), Best Life (9/1), Blue Hop (11/1), One Eye On Vegas (12/1), Punxsutawney Phil (25/1), Velasco (25/1), Spitalfield (28/1), Golden Cosmos (33/1), Aquila Sky (33/1), Ah Whisht (33/1), Mattie Ross (66/1), Gandhi Maker (66/1), Tide Times (150/1)

JACK SPRAT has won the last two hurdles races he's contested and isn't fully exposed in this sphere. He wasn't fully extended when winning at Exeter 11 days ago and has to be of interest racing off the same mark today. One Eye On Vegas struggled up in class last time but he should be capable of better back down in grade on his first try at this trip. Velasco and Fierce Warrior contested the same race last month, both shaped better than the bare result and merit consideration here.