13:35 Doncaster

Tuesday 14 January 2020

All13:0513:3514:1014:4015:1515:50

Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 5m 32.00s

Craigneiche²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/11

Won his only start in bumpers and caught the eye when third of 11 to The Big Breakaway in a 2½m novice at Newbury on hurdling debut. Sets the standard on that run, and is open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 13

Cubao⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis

6/1

Bumper winner who showed promise amidst inexperience when fourth of 6 to Mossy Fen in a 2½m novice at Aintree on hurdling debut. Ought to improve on that considerate introduction.

Form: 144

Eglantier^t1⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: M Bradstock| BF

18/1

Won a weak Fontwell bumper on his debut in March, and having his first run since when 22L fourth of 8 to Orrisdale in a maiden at Uttoxeter on hurdling bow, making the running. Should do better, but has a fair bit to find.

Form: 1-4

Eyeofthescorpion

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

33/1

Full-brother to fair 2¾m hurdles winner Summer Hill. Making a rather belated start to life under rules, and others make considerably more appeal on paper.

Form:

Hillberry⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

100/1

From the family of yard's popular staying chaser Pete The Feat, but like that one, he showed very little on his bumper debut, and is almost certainly more of a long-term project.

Form: 0

Jaytee⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams

50/1

Hinted at ability in bumpers, but well held in maiden at Newbury on hurdling debut when sent off at 100/1, and has a mountain to climb on that evidence.

Form: 75-0

Manintheshadows⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

50/1

Has shaped like a stayer when fourth in bumpers at Southwell and Chepstow this term, and while he should do better over hurdles, he's likely to need time and distance.

Form: 44

Meyer Lansky³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

7/2

Runner-up on sole bumper start, and better effort over hurdles when ½L second of 15 to Nightboattoclyro in a 2m3½f novice at Chepstow last time. Solid place claims if building as expected on that promising effort.

Form: 3-262

Six One Nine³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant

50/1

Flattered by proximity when third in a slowly-run bumper at Kelso in November, and well beaten either side of that run. Type to do better granted a thorough test of stamina in time given pedigree, but of limited appeal here.

Form: 9-38

Ulverston³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

33/1

Showed ability in bumpers and when third to Keppage on hurdles bow at Leicester, although that race was run at a crawl, and hard to know quite what he achieved.

Form: 3-53

Forecasts

Craigneiche (4/11), Meyer Lansky (7/2), Cubao (6/1), Eglantier (18/1), Ulverston (33/1), Eyeofthescorpion (33/1), Jaytee (50/1), Manintheshadows (50/1), Six One Nine (50/1), Hillberry (100/1)

CRAIGNEICHE has the best form on offer and also seems more likely to progress than most in this field, so gets a confident vote ahead of Meyer Lansky, who bettered the form he showed in his only bumper when runner-up at Chepstow on his second start in this sphere. Cubao ran respectably on his hurdles bow, and is another whose bumper exploits entitle him to serious consideration.