15:30 Doncaster

Thursday 8 February 2018

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

Gilly Gally Paddy Parry Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 10.60s

Dueling Banjos^t⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130

13/2

Two from four as a novice hurdler in 2015/16 and has at times shaped well over fences since, though just one win from nine in that sphere (placed four times). On a fair mark if bringing best form for this hurdling return.

Form: 212-28F

Clondaw Native⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130| D

4/1

Progressing over hurdles, as evidenced with victory in 2m5½f Ascot maiden event in December. Makes handicap debut and feasibly on a good mark as he looks to cement next month's Cheltenham Festival entry.

Form: 1-4321

Nautical Nitwit⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 130| D

16/1

A consistent stayer, but that consistency comes at a price. His last success was over 3m at Southwell in February, and whilst edging back down the weights ever so slightly he shouldn't prove quite good enough.

Form: 343368

Gunfleet⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 130

3/1

Produced a career-best to win 13-runner novice hurdle at Southwell (2m4½f, soft) in December on just third outing over timber. Goes handicapping now and ought to lay down a challenge from what seems a fair mark.

Form: 1-251

Cake de L'Isle^t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129WS

4/1

Improved effort when just denied over 2m3½f here in December, running on strongly at the finish. Has undergone wind surgery since and worth a shot over this longer journey.

Form: P31-U62

Southfield Royale¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 128| CD

10/1

Won a Grade 2 novices' chase here two seasons ago and finished runner-up in a Grade 1 at Kempton before losing his way. Strong effort on return to hurdling at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) in December but failed to repeat next time. Risks attached.

Form: F0-PP24

Another Bill^p1⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 125

16/1

Three-time winner in maiden/novice hurdles back in 2016 but rather lost his way in handicaps and seems to have been hard to train. Cheekpieces called for in bid to ignite a spark but others make sounder appeal right now.

Form: 11F6-86

Join The Clan²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: N P Madden| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| D

20/1

Best days clearly behind him now but still capable when the mood takes him, showed no real enthusiasm at Warwick (3m1f, soft) last month when switched to hurdles and hard to make a case for now.

Form: F1-440P

Fingerontheswitch^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123| CD

16/1

Two-time winner over timber but not the most consistent. Winning form has been on no worse than good to soft, distant second at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) on penultimate outing but not as good since at Warwick. Hard to figure out.

Form: P-P2625

Sir Will^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 119

8/1

All the way winner over Uttoxeter maiden hurdle in late December over this sort of trip on heavy ground, getting first hurdles success in the process. Bit more called for back in a handicap now.

Form: 444-5F1

Forecasts

Gunfleet (3/1), Clondaw Native (4/1), Cake de L'Isle (4/1), Dueling Banjos (13/2), Sir Will (8/1), Southfield Royale (10/1), Nautical Nitwit (16/1), Fingerontheswitch (16/1), Another Bill (16/1), Join The Clan (20/1)

Gunfleet showed his best form to date when scoring last time at Southwell and merits plenty respect now switched to handicaps off what appears a fair mark. Equally, Dueling Banjos, a fairly reliable chaser, would be entitled to go close reverting to hurdles off this mark if he brings his best stuff. Cake de L'Isle could have some more to say on the back of a wind operation going over a longer trip having run on well at this venue in December but the vote goes to CLONDAW NATIVE. He's progressing nicely this season, as evidenced with his win at Ascot in December and looks to be on a decent mark here as he attempts to justify an entry in next month's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.