13:55 Doncaster

Friday 25 January 2019

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

Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 57.18s

Ozzie The Oscar⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 157| D

9/4

Haldon Gold Cup runner-up who was back to winning ways when rallying from the last to out-gun Bun Doran at Cheltenham (2m, good) in December; 50% strike-rate over fences (4-8) and more than capable of improving that ratio today.

Form: 1-13251

Modus⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 0-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| D

8/1

Classy hurdler (2017 Lanzarote winner - Listed); not quite at that level yet over fences but wore down the winner of this contest in 2018 (Duke Of Navan) when scoring at Cheltenham (2m, good) in October; ground conditions suitable.

Form: F185-10

Forest Bihan^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 150| CD

3/1

Hasn't had things go quite his way so far this season but wasn't disgraced in finishing a close-up third to Cracking Find and Marracudja in the Castleford Chase (2m) at Wetherby over Christmas; last win came in a jumpers bumper (March 2018).

Form: 416-3F3

Champagne At Tara⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| D

25/1

A three-time winner over fences (all over 2m), the latest of which came at Uttoxeter in July 2018 (2m, good); still just about at the top of his game, albeit that's unlikely to be enough - a weak finisher off the bridle.

Form: 2-31126

Duke Of Navan²⁹

Age: 17| Weight: 0-0| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 144| CD

Form: 213-2P5

Nuts Well¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 143| D

16/1

Hardy handicap hurdler who handles most conditions; had a varied campaign, winning over fences at Kelso in October (2m1f, good) before switching back to the smaller obstacles; comfortably held runner-up to Beau Bay at Wetherby (1m7f+, good) latest.

Form: 1-1P462

Beau Bay^h,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 136| D

11/2

Made all when winning unchallenged at Wetherby (1m7f+, good) 13-days ago, beating Nuts Well by 3¾L in the process; should confirm those placings off his revised mark (5lb higher) but others rate as more likely winners.

Form: 12U-641

Cracking Find²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130| D

9/2

Wetherby regular who enjoyed his day in the spotlight there over Christmas when gamely landing the Castleford Chase by a nose from Marracudja (Forest Bihan third); slightly more to do from just outside of the weights (1lb wrong).

Form: 6-32321

Just Cameron²⁹

Age: 18| Weight: 0-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 139| D

Form: 42U-637

First Drift²³

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: B I Case| OR: 130| C| D

Form: 112-P12

Dandridge¹¹³

Age: 16| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| CD

Form: 0/0867-3

Peppay Le Pugh⁵⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| CD

Form: 213321

Forecasts

Ozzie The Oscar (9/4), Forest Bihan (3/1), Cracking Find (9/2), Beau Bay (11/2), Modus (8/1), Nuts Well (16/1), Champagne At Tara (25/1)

A competitive 2m handicap chase which features last month's Castleford Chase foes Cracking Find and Forest Bihan among a whole host of useful performers. The Sue Smith-trained runner was an ultra-game winner of that Wetherby contest but has more on his plate against arguably slightly stronger rivals from 1lb out of the handicap. Front-runner Beau Bay can also confirm his recent Wetherby form with Nuts Well, although the probable winner sits at the other end of the weights. OZZIE THE OSCAR has a pleasing strike-rate over fences (50%) and has done little wrong so far this term. With ground conditions in his favour (good), he can defy a mark of 157.