16:31 Doncaster

Saturday 1 March 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5516:3117:07

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 3m 51.04s

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Selected odds by:

Unleash The Beast²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105| BF

10/1

Malinas gelding who is bred to stay very well, so encouraging he's displayed race-by-race progress in trio of maiden hurdles at around 2m, keeping on well for second at Southwell (15.8f) 26 days ago. Further improvement likely now handicapping, for all longer trips will suit in due course.

Form: 5652

Walden³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: T Lacey| OR: 105

10/1

Modest in bumpers for Tom Weston and improved with each run over hurdles for new yard, noted finishing with running left when third of 9 in a Huntingdon maiden (15.8f) 37 days ago. Retains potential now switched to handicaps for yard amongst the winners.

Form: 55-3833

Busy Being Busy^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 105

25/1

Definite promise on first of 2 starts in maiden hurdles for Neil McKnight in Ireland last year. Jumped none too fluently but spared a hard race on qualifying run for new yard at Kempton (2m) 3 weeks ago and the betting can guide now handicapping.

Form: 368

St Just In Time²⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 104

13/2

Fair maiden on the level (stays 10f) and promise whilst looking a work in progress in handful of juvenile/maiden hurdle runs for Sir Mark Todd during first half of last year. New yard adept at readying one after a break, so very much one to note on handicap bow.

Form: 943-4

Muzaffar^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 102

7/1

Useful on Flat for Richard Fahey and promise when third in pair of novice hurdles 12 months apart for present yard. Proved easy to back but stepped forward when seventh of 15 in handicap at Musselburgh (15.5f) 4 weeks ago and he appeals as the type to do better still.

Form: 3-37

Seek Him There³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 101

10/1

Showed something akin to pick of his bumper form when runner-up on third start in maidens at Southwell (15.8f) in December. Subsequent handicap debut effort at Sandown 5 weeks ago was disappointing though, so bounce back called for.

Form: 67-7628

Red Trail¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 99

150/1

Four-time winner on the Flat for Andrew McNamara in Ireland but more miss than hit over hurdles, going with no promise starting out for new yard when last of 6 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (20.6f, good to soft, 66/1) 11 days ago. Passed over.

Form: 5/7-P606

Iolaos Du Mou²⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 98

100/1

Bumper winner and encouragement when runner-up on his first 2 completed starts over hurdles last season. Ended time for Nicky Henderson in disappointing fashion and low-key start for present yard when eighth of 11 in handicap at Worcester (2m) last June. Absent since.

Form: P2257-8

By The Grace⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 96

11/4

Pulled up on first 2 starts in handicaps during the spring but resumed from 8 months off with an improved second in 15-runner handicap hurdle at Hereford (16.2f) in December, keeping on well run-in and just failing. Needs considering for top yard.

Form: 847P-P2

Cuban Court^p,t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 94| CD

3/1

Bumper winner who belatedly opened his hurdles account with cheekpieces reapplied over C&D in December. Matched that form from 7 lb higher mark when third back here (19.4f) 5 weeks ago and he ought to be competitive again.

Form: 563713

Aotano^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

28/1

Made a winning hurdles debut at Hereford (16.2f) in October. Changed hands for £8,500 thereafter and similar form in defeat in trio of starts since, not seen to best effect when sixth of 8 on handicap debut at Huntingdon (15.8f) 23 days ago. Eased 3 lb ahead of this but more needed.

Form: 1536

Good Company¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 89

50/1

Hinted at ability prior to falling 2 out at Bangor on hurdling debut in November. Low-key efforts next 2 starts and, easy to back, failed to improve immediately when eighth of 10 on handicap hurdle debut at Musselburgh (19.8f) 13 days ago. Back down in trip now.

Form: F668

Fine Point⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 96

14/1

Fair maiden at up to 10.5f on the Flat in Ireland and definite signs of promise in handful of juvenile hurdle outings during second half of last year. Switch to handicaps in his favour back from 64 days off and he commands a second look in receipt of his handy 4-y-o allowance.

Form: 4254

Granny B^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 83

80/1

Fair winner at 5f on flat who made more impact than previously in this sphere when third in mares' novice at Huntingdon (15.8f) in November. However, big prices and not figured in trio of handicaps since. Mark is easing all the time but others preferred.

Form: 663746

Forecasts

By The Grace (11/4), Cuban Court (3/1), St Just In Time (13/2), Muzaffar (7/1), Unleash The Beast (10/1), Seek Him There (10/1), Walden (10/1), Fine Point (14/1), Busy Being Busy (25/1), Aotano (28/1), Good Company (50/1), Granny B (80/1), Iolaos Du Mou (100/1), Red Trail (150/1)

A fair maiden on the Flat, ST JUST IN TIME showed ability in a handful of maiden hurdles during the first half of last year. He's joined a yard that does well with new recruits and could be worth chancing before market clues on handicap debut/following 8 months off. Unleash The Beast is another likely improver now handicapping, with Muzaffar and By The Grace others to consider. 4-y-o Fine Point is another worth a second look.