14:45 Doncaster

Friday 15 December 2017

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

grandnational.fans Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 50.0s

Huntsman Son⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-5| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 115

6/4

Dual point-to-point winner in Ireland and off the mark at the third time of asking under rules when winning by 15L on handicap debut at Market Rasen (good-to-soft) last time out. One for the shortlist carrying just a 7lb penalty today.

Form: 1P/13-21

Slanelough^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 117

9/1

Broke a run of second placed finishes when winning over 2m1f at Carlisle (soft) in October. Disappointed on handicap debut subsequently but this looks a weaker contest.

Form: 7222-17

Pulp Fiction^h,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B I Case| OR: 115

7/1

Placed in a point-to-point and a similar result on all three rules outings so far. Most recent of those came on soft ground over an extended 2m at Bangor earlier this month and he is worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 33-23

Stonecoldsoba³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: D P Quinn| OR: 114

66/1

Completed a double over 2m at Uttoxeter (good) in July but well held at Kempton (2m, good) last month on his only subsequent hurdles start. Needs to put that effort behind him if he's to taste victory today.

Form: 453118

David's Phoebe³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 113

18/1

Followed up a couple of good novice hurdle starts when winning on handicap debut at Worcester (2m, soft) last time out. Useful amateur jockey in the saddle as he attempts to defy a 5lb rise for that victory.

Form: 5241

Mackie Dee³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Mackie| OR: 112

66/1

Well beaten in the main in seven starts so far and finished 57L behind the winner when third at Southwell (good) last time out. Probably best watched on handicap debut.

Form: 733-353

Manny Owens^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109| CD

9/2

Winning for the first time over hurdles when justifying favouritism over C&D on good-to-soft ground earlier this month. Similar conditions forecast today and he is one to note despite a 6lb rise in the weights.

Form: 44-5321

Schnabel⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 106

8/1

Off the mark when winning at Ludlow over 2m5f on good-to-soft ground earlier this month. Races off a 7lb higher mark today and is an interesting runner with a leading jockey booked to ride.

Form: 56-4821

Safe Harbour³²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 103

33/1

Career best effort when finishing third of eight over 2m3f at Fontwell (soft) in January. Unraced since and worth a check in the market with better ground forecast for today's handicap debut.

Form: 5/683-

Jack Lamb¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 99

11/1

Eight race maiden and put a disappointing handicap debut behind him when finishing third over C&D last time out. Bit to find with Manny Owens on that running.

Form: 7/77-4P3

Mr Mafia¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 96| D

50/1

Well held in the main since sinning over an extended 2m2f at Stratford (good) in August. Races off a mark 1lb lower than when finishing runner-up at Worcester subsequently.

Form: 124U80

Rose Tree^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 93

40/1

Failed to trouble the judge in four outings over hurdles so far including when 37L third at Musselburgh (good) over this trip last time. Wears cheekpieces for the first time on handicap debut.

Form: 336953

Forecasts

Huntsman Son (6/4), Manny Owens (9/2), Pulp Fiction (7/1), Schnabel (8/1), Slanelough (9/1), Jack Lamb (11/1), David's Phoebe (18/1), Safe Harbour (33/1), Rose Tree (40/1), Mr Mafia (50/1), Stonecoldsoba (66/1), Mackie Dee (66/1)

MANNY OWENS justified favouritism under today's jockey last time out and he can follow that up with a second C&D success in this competitive handicap hurdle. A 6lb rise for that latest success doesn't look overly harsh and he is taken to see off top weight Huntsman Son, the impressive winner at Market Rasen last time out and well in at the weights today while the filly David's Phoebe can take third.