14:05 Doncaster

Saturday 27 January 2018

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 8.27s

Calett Mad^t⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| BF| DWS

5/1

Placed in the Grade 2 Towton Chase at Wetherby last year but made successful return to hurdles since, winning two novices' contests over this trip. Well held at Cheltenham last time, but returns after wind op with claims again.

Form: 952-115

Classic Ben³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130

16/1

Has made a good start over hurdles, winning at Fakenham (2m4f, soft) and following up with an improved effort under a penalty at Huntingdon. Pedigree suggests step up in trip is positive and similar improvement could put him in the picture.

Form: 5F-2211

Enniscoffey Oscar⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135| C

9/2

Runner-up in Grade 2 Aintree bumper last season and has made steady improvement over hurdles, breaking his duck here over 2m5f (good to soft) last time by 15L. Looks well worth his place here and probably more to come.

Form: 12-4731

Indian Hawk²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| D

15/8

Irish point-to-point winner who impressed on debut in a Ludlow maiden hurdle (2m5f, soft) earlier in the month, scoring by 8L. Plenty to build on from there, top yard in great form too, so probably capable of making an impact at this level.

Form: 2-11

Linenhall^p1⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: B Pauling| OR: 124

33/1

Couldn't win a bumper but obliged on hurdles debut at Stratford (2m6f, good) in November and improved on that under penalty at Taunton. Longer trip a plus here and cheekpieces now added, but needs to step up.

Form: 2435-12

Samuel Jackson²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| D

5/1

Has impressed in both starts so far over hurdles, winning at Taunton (3m, soft) last month and then following up under a penalty at Bangor (2m7f, heavy). With improvement possible, he is short-listed.

Form: PF/12-11

Shannon Bridge⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

16/1

Won a Bangor maiden hurdle (2m7f, soft) in November and improved on that with narrow defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4½f, soft) last time. Needs to step up again, but could do so and is not ruled out.

Form: 54-12

Station Master⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| D

9/1

Has improved with each run under rules and stays 3m2f. Yet to prove himself on geniune soft ground, but has won on good to soft and it would be no surprise to see him emerge as a serious player here.

Form: F1-1311

Forecasts

Indian Hawk (15/8), Enniscoffey Oscar (9/2), Samuel Jackson (5/1), Calett Mad (5/1), Station Master (9/1), Shannon Bridge (16/1), Classic Ben (16/1), Linenhall (33/1)

An absolutely fascinating renewal of this stayers' contest and with the stable in cracking form still it could pay to side with INDIAN HAWK for a trainer who has won two of the last three renewals. Currently in the 'could be anything' category, the six-year-old should be suited by this step up in trip and could make significant improvement on his debut success. In truth it is very hard to rule anything out with confidence, though the opponents most feared are Station Master, Shannon Bridge now back up in trip, Samuel Jackson and Enniscoffey Oscar.