12:25 Doncaster
Tuesday 9 January 2018
All11:5512:2512:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:40
Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 4f 181y | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 8 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 5m 8.82s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Was runner-up in a couple of Irish maidens last spring (2m/2m3f, soft) and has been reasonably short prices on both starts for this trainer, falling early and then pulled up (heavy) at Ffos Las last time. Clearly better than that and not ruled out.
Won Irish point-to-point plus a bumper here on debut, beating a good yardstick. Beaten favourite in Aintree Grade 2 bumper in April and would have wanted further than on his hurdles debut at Newbury last time. Gets that here and has claims.
€13,000 yearling who went for €52,000 at the sales as a three-year-old. Largely a Flat pedigree, but full-brother to Credulous, placed in 2m-2m1f hurdles. Probably one to keep an eye on in the market on debut.
Wide margin winner of a Southwell bumper (good) at the fourth attempt in April. Sent off favourite for Ludlow hurdles debut (2m5f, good to soft) in November, but weakened into 23L third. Can improve for that and will need to.
Has not shown much in four starts to date, all in novices' and maiden hurdle company. Pulled up on seasonal return after 10-month absence when last seen in October. Need to see some signs of life before he can be considered.
€40,000 buy as a three-year-old. First foal of unraced full-sister to 2m-3m hurdle/very useful chase winner Beg To Differ and has a decent jumps pedigree. Blinkers on debut a slight concern, but no reason why he can't acquit himself well.
Debut Irish point-to-point winner. Made good start under rules with back-to-back bumper wins (inc. on soft). Didn't jump too fluently on hurdles debut when last seen in October 2016. Long absence to overcome but has ability and market check prudent.
Has made an inauspicious start to his hurdling career, though did improve for his debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f) when returning for a second go over that C&D last time. Hooded today, but looks more one to consider when handicapping.
Sent off at 50-1 for his debut at Bangor last month, so expectations didn't appear to be high and after being tailed off he was pulled up around a quarter-of-a-mile from home. Very much one to watch this time.
Forecasts
Black Op (1/3), Colonial Dreams (11/4), Fawsley Spirit (7/1), Aaron Lad (15/2), First Drift (16/1), Coisa Blanco (22/1), Destiny's Star (66/1), Katara Bay (100/1), Quasi (100/1)
Not a bad contest of its type with Aaron Lad a potential winner if he can get back to what he was showing in Ireland previously and Colonial Dreams another for the short-list, though he needs to take a step up on his Ludlow debut. Fawsley Spirit is the more interesting of the debutantes and should be checked out in the market to gauge expectations, while First Drift obviously has some ability and if ready for this comeback run then he is an interesting candidate. However, BLACK OP looks to have a future in the sport and although beaten favourite at Newbury on his hurdles debut, he will benefit from a step up in trip here and should prove tough to beat.
- Black Op
- Colonial Dreams
- Fawsley Spirit
Prize Money
1st: £3,119.002nd: £916.003rd: £458.004th: £229.00
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