13:55 Doncaster

Thursday 9 February 2017

All13:5514:3015:0015:3016:0516:40

Eventmaster Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 6m 9.42s

Big Casino^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 121

12/1

Tends to need ground no worse than good to soft, so any further rain a negative, and has generally been disappointing over the past couple of seasons, but did win at Stratford last October when conditions were ideal for him. Shown little last couple of runs and looks a risky proposition now.

Form: F68461-

Pithivier³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 120

2/1

Unexposed after just two runs over fences and has performed with credit on both occasions, finishing third and second behind improving horses at Wetherby and Bangor. Conditions look ideal here and with the handicapper leaving him on the same mark, appears to have a great chance of getting on the scoresheet.

Form: 224/19-3

Fort Smith^b,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 117

40/1

No win since 2015 (for Gordon Elliott) at Downpatrick and has shown little to recommend in recent starts, never travelling at Sandown on latest start and was pulled up before the race took shape. Drops in grade and handicapper relenting, but still hard to recommend.

Form: 3387-66

Gary Charm^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 116

14/1

Marginal improvement on his last three starts for the application of headgear, and ran best race to date on these shores when sixth to Barton Gift at Bangor last time, appearing not to get the marathon trip. Drops back to three miles here, and handicapper has dropped him another 2lb. One of the more interesting ones.

Form: 00U667

Twojayslad⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 114

7/2

Winner of two of his three chase starts to date, so every chance of more improvement to come, but form of Warwick win last time out (for which he's been raised 9lb) isn't working out and he needs to show he's as happy going left-handed as right-handed here too. Can't be discounted, but others have better profiles.

Form: P14-1PP

Cabragh^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 114

9/1

Looked a different horse once handicapped and switched to fences, thrashing a poor field at Sedgefield and winning again at Bangor two starts later (Pithivier, six lengths behind, now 9lb better off) but couldn't dominate at Bangor on his latest start and ran well below par, pulling up before two out. May face competition for the lead again here, with Carli King in attendance, and that may again harm his chance.

Form: 858614

Carli King^b1⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: A Pogson| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 114

18/1

Stays all day, as shown by his win over 3m5f at Warwick two seasons ago, but has shown next to nothing in three starts this winter, often leading but fading out of contention from halfway. Needs a huge turnaround in form, despite falling handicap mark.

Form: 099246-

Beggars Cross³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

4/1

Useful form when winning a bumper on his debut at Huntingdon and also when taking a novice hurdle at Warwick last April, and always looked the sort to do well over fences. Hasn't really happened for him as yet, but not disgraced on latest start and still time for him to do better, and handicapper giving him a chance now too.

Form: 51-4544

Best Value^t⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 108

66/1

Only the one start for Rebecca Menzies so far, and didn't show much when finishing midfield in a handicap hurdle but this switch to fences will suit (won two chases for previous yard), as will the step up in trip so can't be totally discounted, although new yard may need for time with him.

Form: 086097

Emma Soda^p1²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: P S Davies| OR: 106

50/1

Another thorough stayer who enjoys soft ground, although inconsistency means she's always hard to pin down as far as winning goes. Successful at Towcester last April (from a mark just 2lb lower than today) but in true fashion, hasn't repeated that run in three starts since. May strip fitter for two runs this winter and showed a little more from the front at Chepstow last time, but still a very risky proposition.

Form: 214-885

Boric^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: S Waugh| OR: 105

14/1

Winner of two of his 14 starts, both over half a mile shorter than today's trip, but seemed to stay three miles when upped to this trip at Wetherby last time, plugging on to take third behind Fingerontheswitch. Should run his race, although may need a drop in grade before scoring again.

Form: 553P18

Non-Runners

Cyclop²¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: David Dennis J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Pithivier (2/1), Twojayslad (7/2), Beggars Cross (4/1), Cyclop (5/1), Cabragh (9/1), Big Casino (12/1), Gary Charm (14/1), Boric (14/1), Carli King (18/1), Fort Smith (40/1), Emma Soda (50/1), Best Value (66/1)

Cabragh's chance here may all depend on shaking off Carli King early on, and if he doesn't, he may well sulk again as he did last time out at Bangor. That may leave the door open for the improving PITHIVIER, who will surely be winning sooner rather than later. He's got ground to make up on Cabragh but has every chance of doing so under the revised weights today. Gary Charm is getting the hang of things now he's been given headgear and may well get in the places, as might Beggars Cross, who may improve again. 1. Pithivier 2. Gary Charm 3. Beggars Cross