17:05 Doncaster

Friday 3 March 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 4m 58.05s

Saint Cajetan³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Johnson| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 112

5/4

Best efforts have come on good ground including when sixth off a 1lb higher mark here last time out. Still lightly raced having had just the four starts over hurdles and likely to fair better in what looks a weaker event.

Form: 324625

Maximus Maridius³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 108

11/1

Point-to-point winner two years ago but no show in under rules so far including on handicap debut last time out. Has been dropped 3lb for that effort and likely to appreciate the predicted better ground here.

Form: 17/6

Border Victor³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 104

33/1

Started big prices for each of his four outings to date but latest two efforts not without promise. Drop back slightly in trip looks likely to suit and small yard has had a winner recently.

Form: 98

Mcvicar^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: J J Davies| OR: 104

12/1

Well beaten on first hurdles outing since April 2016 at Catterick last month. Winner on the Flat in the interim period and successful three times in hurdle events as a juvenile back in 2012. More need than he's been showing recently to take this.with cheekpieces re-applied (left off last time out).

Form: 957P33/-

The Wise One²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 100

7/1

Winner of a point-to-point from four outings in Ireland. Placed on last two starts over hurdles on heavy ground but beaten a fair distance on each occasion. Should have no problem with the step up in distance and likely to go well if handling the quicker ground.

Form: 193331

Episode^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 92

15/8

Winner over an extended 2m here last time out in second time cheekpieces (placed in them the time before). Has been put up 3lb for that success but yard are going well at present with an 18% strike rate (3/17) in recent times.

Form: 4/25-858

Non-Runners

Road To Rome³³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: W Kinsey J: Andrew Tinkler

Cafe Au Lait¹²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: Mrs S Leech J: Patrick Cowley

Parc Des Princes⁴²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 11

T: N G Richards J: S A Shortall

Forecasts

Saint Cajetan (5/4), Episode (15/8), Cafe Au Lait (5/1), The Wise One (7/1), Parc Des Princes (10/1), Maximus Maridius (11/1), Mcvicar (12/1), Road To Rome (16/1), Border Victor (33/1)

SAINT CAJETAN drops in grade here having contested a 0-120 handicap when last seen in action here at the end of January. The selection put in a solid effort on that occasion and with his trainer in decent form at present with a 25% strike rate from eight runners in recent times he can defy top weight under a leading jockey. Recent winner Cafe Au Lait failed to defy a penalty earlier this week and can claim second placing here while recent course winner Episode is taken to finish third in the concluding event on the card. 1. Saint Cajetan 2. Cafe Au Lait 3. Episode