11:55 Doncaster

Sunday 29 December 2019

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Doncaster Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:55 | Winning time: 6m 6.50s

Divine Spear^p1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

12/1

Made a promising start over fences but things haven't gone according to plan during 2019; returns to hurdles in newly applied cheekpieces after pulling up (jumped right throughout) on seasonal reappearance at Newbury (2m6½f).

Form: 12/P0F-P

Gangster^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 130| D

28/1

Formerly with Willie Mullins and then Henry De Bromhead (left the latter for £42,000 in September 2018); finished down the field on return from a 15 month absence at Ffos Las (3m, soft); may improve on second start since wind surgery.

Form: 4/5574-6

Alrightjack⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 129

3/1

Sole win over hurdles came in a Lingfield maiden (2m, soft); fairly progressive since, although he's yet to demonstrate his stamina conclusively; weakening fifth to Diablo Du Rouhet at Newbury (3m, good to soft) latest.

Form: 1222-45

Snow Leopardess²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127| C

6/1

Course winner; continued on an upward path during 2017 with a Grade 2 novices' (mares') win at Newbury (2m4½f, good to soft) the highlight; in clear need of the run on return from a 26-month absence at Newbury; tackles a new trip.

Form: 31311/9

Boss Man Fred²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

10/11

Unbeaten (3-3); 2-2 over hurdles for Dan Skelton, justifying short odds in workmanlike style (strongest at the finish) at Southwell (3m, soft) 26 days ago; this more galloping track should play to his strengths; a key player on handicap debut.

Form: 1-11

Same Circus^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

14/1

Game winner (40-1) at Aintree (3m, soft) on seasonal reappearance; 4lb higher in the weights (twice beaten since) and she's likely to find a few more attractively weighted on this occasion.

Form: 265-153

Little Bruce^p²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 122| D

16/1

Made all as an easy 7L winner of the Cambridgeshire National at Huntingdon (3m6½f, good) in March; hasn't raced over hurdles since March 2018, but is attractively weighted (10lb lower than over fences) as a result; chance if fit and ready to roll.

Form: P22312-

Los Alamos^v1³³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122

66/1

All out winner of a Thurles maiden hurdle (2m6½f, good to firm) for Joseph O'Brien in November 2018; has left that trainer since appearing on the Polytrack at Dundalk in February; visor applied on first start for Tim Vaughan.

Form: 405/145-

Forecasts

Boss Man Fred (10/11), Alrightjack (3/1), Snow Leopardess (6/1), Divine Spear (12/1), Same Circus (14/1), Little Bruce (16/1), Gangster (28/1), Los Alamos (66/1)

The Cambridgeshire National winner Little Bruce makes his seasonal reappearance over hurdles from a reasonably competitive handicap mark. A proven stayer, he could be tough to peg back off the front end assuming that he's fully fit and ready to roll off a 256-day absence. Meanwhile, a recent Ffos Las run should've blown away a few cobwebs for the capable Gangster, and it'll come as no surprise if he takes a significant step forward. However, the most interesting runner is the unbeaten (3-3) handicap debutant BOSS MAN FRED who appears certain to appreciate the switch to a proper galloping track after a recent workmanlike short odds novice win at Southwell.