13:55 Doncaster

Thursday 8 February 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3016:0516:40

eventmasters.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 6m 12.72s

Powerful Symbol^p,t⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 122| CD

9/2

Off the mark at the fifth attempt over fences when winning at Southwell in November and defied an 8lb hike to follow up over C&D (good to soft) in December. Another 8lb to shoulder having left Jonjo O'Neill for this trainer since.

Form: U26-611

Nightline³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120

8/1

A long time between parties now, with more than three years since his sole career success over hurdles at Southwell. Has shaped well in pair of C&D novice handicap chases lately (2L behind Powerful Symbol penultimate) and could get involved.

Form: U32-522

Washed Ashore⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| D

8/1

Just the one win from six over fences, coming over 3m on good ground at Market Rasen in August. Certainly not fully exposed in this sphere, though anything worse than good ground would be an unknown. May have found 3m5f too far at Southwell.

Form: 552127

Buster Thomas^t1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120

13/2

Lightly-raced sort, made winning start for this yard in Lingfield novice hurdle back in December 2016, very little in form of three novice handicap chases this winter to recommend for now.

Form: 2/12-3F4

Crown Hill²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 120

10/1

Pair of chase wins in soft/heavy going at Leicester (2m) and Hereford (2m5f) last spring, only five starts over fences and fair effort last month in four-runner Wetherby contest (2m3½f, soft). Stayed further over hurdles and could be more to come.

Form: 15-2442

Capard King^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| BF| D

6/1

3m and soft ground is the ideal scenario for this multiple winner, who is now 18lb lower than his last winning mark from 2016. Was in front and yet to be asked serious question over C&D 13 days ago when coming down six out. Off same mark now.

Form: U0-063U

Gibbes Bay⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

7/1

Bumper winner who showed a fair level of form over hurdles without getting his head in front. Top stable wasted no time going chasing and was favourite for C&D novice event in December won by Powerful Symbol when blundering and unseating early on.

Form: 653-27U

Amiral Collonges^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 116| D

8/1

Thrives on a strong test of stamina and stays a good deal further than this, runner-up behind Vinegar Hill over this trip at Market Rasen in November and ran well again over longer back there in December. Others potentially better suited on terms.

Form: 3-1PP22

Another Frontier^p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113| D

20/1

Didn't always jump well on chase bow at Towcester (2m5½f, good to soft) in December and effort duly faded to finish tailed off in the end. Longer trip a potential plus but plenty improvement to uncover.

Form: 374-5P0

Twojayslad²⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 111| D

14/1

Prone to errors and can be known to throw in the towel (pulled up in two of previous three starts). Would need to prove he stays this far should the ground come up soft and, returning from 287 days off, market check needed, has won fresh before.

Form: 14/1PP2-

Good Man Vinnie⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: P Henderson| OR: 110| D

20/1

Lightly-raced point-to-point winner, making just third start over regulation fences. Shaped well enough in Ludlow novice handicap chase in November to suggest he could play a part here off 4lb higher mark having had one spin over hurdles since.

Form: 159624

Thoonavolla²⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: T H Weston| OR: 103| D

14/1

Latest chase success came in May 2016 at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft) off a mark of 98. Not much encouragement in three spins last season off this sort of mark and watching brief seems best on first start for 250 days.

Form: 4P32-5P

Ballythomas⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson| OR: 95| D

33/1

Frontrunner who achieved second of two chase wins over 3m at Musselburgh in March on good ground off a mark of 89. Pulled up in December outings over hurdles and Southwell and fences at Catterick. Plenty to prove on those efforts.

Form: 112P-PP

Forecasts

Powerful Symbol (9/2), Capard King (6/1), Buster Thomas (13/2), Gibbes Bay (7/1), Washed Ashore (8/1), Nightline (8/1), Amiral Collonges (8/1), Crown Hill (10/1), Twojayslad (14/1), Thoonavolla (14/1), Another Frontier (20/1), Good Man Vinnie (20/1), Ballythomas (33/1)

POWERFUL SYMBOL was in fine tune before leaving Jonjo O'Neill, defying an 8lb hike to win over C&D in December. He's up in the ratings again here but looks to be progressing and has cheekpieces added to help him. Given that his new trainer comes here with his previous four runners all having won, he remains of interest. Nightline was just 2L behind him in that race and has run well since, so should be involved in the shake-up. Gibbes Bay was sent off favourite for that same contest but didn't get beyond the second, he is worth noting in the betting with his jumping likely to have been sharpened since. The unexposed Washed Ashore is another potential contender, having perhaps been found wanting by the marathon trip last time out.