15:20 Doncaster

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:20

bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 1.07s

Ballybolley^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 150

7/1

Best efforts have come at 2m4f-2m5f so far and was beaten 9L at Aintree last time on his first attempt at defying this mark. Some hope in his pedigree that he will get this trip on good ground and certainly not ruled out with improvement possible.

Form: 1-3F913

Virgilio^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| BF

5/1

All his wins have been gained going left-handed, the latest being his best performance at Aintree (3m1f, good) in May. Was entitled to need his reappearance back there over inadequate 2m4f and could do much better from 2lb lower.

Form: P223-18

Vibrato Valtat^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 145

11/1

Without a win since November 2015 but has been keeping very good company since. Showed signs that a revival could be imminent when running well at Newbury last time and from 2lb lower today he has an each-way shout.

Form: 22P5-54

Kilcrea Vale²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| BF| D

11/4

Yet to win a handicap over fences but remains open to some improvement after just two attempts. The first of those was a good effort from this mark at Haydock (2m5½f, good), the more recent being less encouraging on his reappearance. Can do better.

Form: 2158-23

Sego Success^p⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 136| CD

4/1

Won this race on soft ground two years ago from 3lb higher but handicapper has been in control since. Made a decent reappearance at Warwick in October (3m, good) and should be spot on for this repeat bid, so has to enter calculations.

Form: 34P5F-2

Solstice Son^b,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132| D

16/1

Best effort so far over fences was at Uttoxeter in May (3m, good to soft). Made a disappointing reappearance when pulled up at Cheltenham last month. Would certainly have each-way claims if over that and back on song.

Form: 11/7F-2P

Killala Quay^b1²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129| CD

14/1

Grade 2 winner over both hurdles and fences and won a C&D handicap chase (good) here in February from 1lb higher and in cheekpieces. They are swapped for blinkers today, though of more concern are his three subsequent runs.

Form: PP1P-88

What Happens Now²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| D

7/1

Impressed when winning an amateur's handicap chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October by 9L from 7lb lower and was not far off that form when back there last time. Should once again be very competitive on ground that suits.

Form: 112317

Mustmeetalady^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

16/1

Won at Haydock (3m4½f, good) from 4lb lower in April, though well beaten in both completed starts since then from just 1lb higher than today. Should be capable of better than that, but comes into this with a bit to prove.

Form: 541-98U

Forecasts

Kilcrea Vale (11/4), Sego Success (4/1), Virgilio (5/1), What Happens Now (7/1), Ballybolley (7/1), Vibrato Valtat (11/1), Killala Quay (14/1), Mustmeetalady (16/1), Solstice Son (16/1)

This should be competitive and VIRGILIO gets the vote now that he returns to this trip after a pipe opener over 2m4f last time. Good ground suits and there may be more to come from him. Ballyboley is not ruled out now stepped up to this trip, which could eek out more improvement, while Kilcrea Vale does not yet look fully exposed and enters calculations. Sego Success is well handicapped based on his win of two years ago and he can't be dismissed lightly, while What Happens Now is in decent form and could also have a say.