15:50 Doncaster

Saturday 27 January 2018

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

Sky Bet Britain's Most Popular Online Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 6.23s

Forest Bihan³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 156| CD

14/1

Won a Grade 2 novices' chase over C&D at this meeting last year and added a handicap success when beating Grade 1 winner Simply Ned at Kelso in October. Disappointed last twice, but class act on his day and has claims if bouncing back.

Form: 152-1P3

Foxtail Hill⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| D

7/1

Bold front-running chaser at his best from 2m-2m5f and acts on soft ground. Won a Grade 3 at Cheltenham on equivalent day last year and scored again there over 2m in October. 2lb drop since last run and each-way claims.

Form: F92-186

Bigmartre⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 145| D

9/4

Goes on any ground and comes here in fine form after wins at Ludlow (2m, good to firm) and at Newbury (2m½f, good to soft) when last seen in December. Improving, so 8lb rise may well be within his compass. Claims.

Form: 1860-11

Upsilon Bleu²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 142| CD

5/1

Won this race last year (good) from the same mark and has been competitive in three out of four races since, including at Musselburgh last time over 2m4f. Goes well on soft ground and is short-listed, though last year's pilot looks elsewhere.

Form: 210-252

Double W's⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 140| D

10/1

1lb better off with Upsilon Bleu for a 1½L defeat in this race last year. Went on to win at Aintree (2m, good) in April. Soft ground a concern, but this is not as tough as recent assignments and revival entirely possible.

Form: 291P-50

Duke Of Navan³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 140| D

6/1

Won a Listed handicap chase at Ayr (1m7½f, good) from 1lb lower in 2015. Endured lengthy layoff but has come back in decent form, trying to make all in three starts this season. Handles cut and should be very competitive from this mark.

Form: 45/2-3F2

Theo^h⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132| D

11/2

Well placed to complete a nap hand on good/good to soft ground last summer, from 2m-2m4f. Handicapper then caught up with him, but not disgraced from 2lb higher in good race at Cheltenham last month and not ruled out.

Form: 1111U4

Movie Legend^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: L Wadham| OR: 130| D

12/1

Has enjoyed a good campaign so far at lower levels with wins at both Fakenham and Wetherby, but wheels came off when upped to this level at Wetherby again last time and looks to have a fair bit to find on that evidence.

Form: 21-3114

Non-Runners

Gino Trail²¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: Kerry Lee J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Bigmartre (9/4), Upsilon Bleu (5/1), Theo (11/2), Duke Of Navan (6/1), Foxtail Hill (7/1), Double W's (10/1), Gino Trail (10/1), Movie Legend (12/1), Forest Bihan (14/1)

Upsilon Bleu took this on good ground from the same mark last year and is probably better with cut, so he has to be short-listed again. Henry Brooke rode him that day but prefers Forest Bihan here and with respect to Pauline Robson's gelding, Brian Ellison's runner has that tough more class. If back to his best he would be hard to beat here despite topweight, but he has a bit to prove and preference is for the improving BIGMARTRE. Harry Whittington's seven-year-old has been given time since winning well at Newbury and may still be well handicapped. Front-runner Duke Of Navan and Theo each have a squeak, while an in-form Foxtail Hill would be very interesting and his inclusion here suggests that there will be plenty of pace on.