12:50 Doncaster

Friday 25 January 2019

All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:3516:05

Sky Bet Britain's Most Popular Online Bookmaker Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 45.18s

Utility²²

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 120| D

8/1

Can be somewhat of a tricky character at the start, which is perhaps why his trainer has mixed AW racing with hurdling and chasing; 3L runner-up to Sir Egbert (2m, soft) at Newbury in December - a career best effort over fences.

Form: 64R162-

Boagrius⁶²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: T R George| OR: 121| BF

Form: 4/P23-3U

Stage Summit^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 116

7/2

Found little from the final fence when run down by Night Of Sin at Fontwell (2m3f+, good to soft) 11-days ago; has shown a broadly similar level of ability on all three starts over fences.

Form: 53-0532

Pique Rock^h⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 116| BF

11/4

Disappointing over hurdles here last month (possibly didn't stay the 3m trip). However, she has done well enough overall since joining Henry Daly (2-4); conditions ideal; expect her to be forcing the pace on her rules chasing debut.

Form: 141134

Henry's Joy¹⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117

Form: 7-25231

Stylish Moment⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 111

4/1

Cost €42,000 as a 3yo; by Milan so could be the type to progress over fences (debut today). That said, he hasn't shown a massive amount of promise over hurdles (0-5) so will need to do so in order to be competitive.

Form: 633-356

Wishfull Dreaming^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 111| BF

5/1

Evidently on an upward curve (post wind surgery) over hurdles, with the form of his penultimate start (at Newcastle) franked by Suggestion at Haydock last Saturday; 0-2 over fences for previous trainer Olly Murphy.

Form: 334922

Ballasalla^p1,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108| BF

13/2

Brother to the Grand National winner Ballabriggs; narrowly beaten on both starts over fences so far (2m); moves up in trip with wearing newly applied cheekpieces; fair chance with usual rider Brian Hughes aboard.

Form: 607-422

First Du Charmil⁵⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 112

Form: 434/34-P

General Bux³⁰

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 111

Form: 674-F21

Minellatillmorning⁶⁵

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| D

Form: 79112-0

Hint Of Grey²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107| BF

Form: 445/522

Benny's Secret¹⁸

Age: 16| Weight: 0-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

Form: 0-80352

Forecasts

Pique Rock (11/4), Stage Summit (7/2), Stylish Moment (4/1), Wishfull Dreaming (5/1), Ballasalla (13/2), Utility (8/1)

Without wanting to be accused of sitting on the fence, it's only fair to state that it would be no major surprise if any of these six runners proved capable of winning this tight and trappy looking opener. Wishfull Dreaming has shown fair form of late over hurdles for Sam England and could go close if improving over the larger obstacles for this trainer. However, the tentative advice is for the Donald McCain-trained BALLASALLA. The selection is a brother to the 2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs, so the combination of cheekpieces (newly applied) and a step up in trip might help unlock extra reserves and see him break the maiden tag at the third time of asking over fences.