13:25 Doncaster
Friday 26 January 2018
All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:10
Sky Bet Fast Withdrawal British EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO to 7YO | Class 5 | 2m 3f 88y | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 4m 49.8s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Well held in both starts so far in an Ascot maiden hurdle (2m4f, good to soft) and a Newbury novices' hurdle (2m4½f, soft) and looks one to watch on that evidence.
22-1 for his debut here over 2m5f (soft) earlier in the month and went well enough for quite some way before weakening out of it. Shorter trip not certain to suit on pedigree and he looks one to take a watching brief over.
Irish point-to-point winner who cost £100,000 and has been beaten favourite in both his bumpers. Improved significantly on his first effort at Ludlow last time (1m6f, soft) and this trip looks ideal for hurdles debut. Should go well.
Took him six attempts to get off the mark between the flags and not a huge amount of encouragement in his debut in a Worcester bumper (good to firm) in October. One to watch this time.
Improved significantly on his Huntingdon debut when a 19½L fourth here over 2m5f (soft) earlier in the month. Another step forward like that would put him in the picture here and return to this trip no major concern. Market check suggested.
Has shown promise on both starts, the latter his hurdles debut at Wetherby over Christmas (2m, soft), when 19½L fourth of 12th in quite a good race. Should be capable of finding more over this longer trip and not ruled out.
Decent bumper performer who scored on debut at Ascot (good to soft) last season. Has bettered than in both hurdle runs with yet winning. Went close to doing so at Taunton (2m3f, soft) last time and is very much one for the short-list.
Won a Punchestown bumper for Gordon Elliott last year and showed plenty of promise on his hurdles/stable debut for this yard at Ascot (2m3½f, good to soft) in November. Back at that trip today he has claims.
Newbury bumper winner (soft) who was 13L sixth in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at last year's Festival. Looks like a capable hurdler on the evidence of two runs this season and it will be a surprise if he is not involved in the shake-up.
Showed a bit of promise on debut in a Newbury maiden hurdle (2m½f, soft) last month, though not as good back there behind a smart performer last time. Longer trip should help elicit improvement and you couldn't rule out much closer involvement.
Ran well for quite a long way on debut in a bumper here in December. Will be well versed ahead of this hurdles debut over a more suitable trip and a market check looks prudent.
Forecasts
Perfect Harmony (2/1), King Of Realms (3/1), Cracking Destiny (9/2), Going Gold (6/1), Oakley Hall (6/1), Present Ranger (25/1), Frozen Flame (50/1), Doctor Tiger (66/1), That's Life (66/1), Almost Gold (125/1), Coisa Blanco (200/1)
One or two promising sorts involved in this and PERFECT HARMONY is the suggestion. Alan King's gelding has performed with credit in his two starts to date and gives there impression that there is a fair bit more to come. King Of Realms has taken well to jumping obstacles and looks a danger, while Oakley Hall and newcomer Cracking Destiny are likely to be able to make their presence felt. Present Ranger, That's Life and Going Gold are further interesting contenders.
- Perfect Harmony
- King Of Realms
- Cracking Destiny
Prize Money
1st: £3,119.002nd: £916.003rd: £458.004th: £229.00
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