14:15 Doncaster

Saturday 1 December 2018

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:25

Napoleons Casino, Restaurant And Bar Sheffield Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 40.20s

Potterman¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 129

5/2

Huntingdon maiden hurdle winner followed up as the lone finisher in a two-runner race at Bangor. Fourth beaten 13L when switched to handicap latest so a bit more needed but time on his side so not ruled out.

Form: 323-114

Simply The Betts²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 128| BF

9/4

Highly tried last season but took full advantage of a drop in class when coasting home at Warwick. Followed up first time out this term before disappointing as favourite at Aintree. Still suspect current handicap is well within range.

Form: 420-118

Higgs⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 127

25/1

First-time handicapper won twice at Newton Abbot in novice company before recent return where he was tailed-off last of four at Kempton. Relatively unexposed but risky on the back of last effort.

Form: 4021-14

Tyrell¹¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 125| D

33/1

Fortunes transformed when upped to 3m½f at Ayr in May when he got back to winning ways. Since been campaigned on the flat with four fair if unspectacular efforts. First start for new yard and drop back in trip not ideal.

Form: 78144-1

Big Time Dancer¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 116

12/1

Ran best race since Hexham maiden success when second at Wetherby over this distance latest which was quite an improvement on recent efforts. Genuine each-way claims now if able to repeat that effort.

Form: 143642

Sunnytahliateigan³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113| D

7/4

Not added to back-to-back wins in April 2017 but made a very encouraging return when third at Cheltenham over 2m despite an error at the last. Longer trip here in his favour and should now strip fitter so leading contender.

Form: 1/4627-3

Non-Runners

Tonto's Spirit²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: Kenneth Slack J: Colm McCormack

Quest For Life¹⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

The Sweeney¹⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Non Runner

Volt Face³²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: P R Webber J: S Bowen

Zephyros Bleu¹²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: William Marshall

Forecasts

Sunnytahliateigan (7/4), Simply The Betts (9/4), Potterman (5/2), The Sweeney (7/1), Tonto's Spirit (11/1), Quest For Life (11/1), Big Time Dancer (12/1), Volt Face (14/1), Zephyros Bleu (14/1), Higgs (25/1), Tyrell (33/1)

SIMPLY THE BETTS was disappointing in an Aintree Listed event last time out but that surely wasn't his true running and his two previous wins suggested he had plenty of potential to continue on an upward curve so he is given another chance here. Sunnytahliateigan is rated as the main danger after an encouraging return at Cheltenham over an inadequate trip and also considered is Big Time Dancer whose latest was an improved effort.