14:10 Doncaster

Tuesday 14 January 2020

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

Sky Bet Cheltenham Non Runner No Bet Beginners' Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 26.9s

Caribean Boy⁶³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141

10/3

Useful hurdler in France for Francois Cottin, and second in Listed company last time, and just about the pick of these based on official handicap marks. In good hands for switch to fences, and market informative.

Form: 515692/

Cotswold Way²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

7/2

Best effort over fences when second of 6 to Western Ryder at Ludlow on penultimate start. Filled same spot there last time, staying on again having been outpaced. Stiffer test here should suit.

Form: 814-622

Garrettstown²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 131

6/1

Scored over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m2½f) a year ago, and was just behind Cotswold Way at Ludlow last time when brought down four out. Not taken lightly as pair clash again.

Form: 2P2-24B

Nestor Park^p1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 132| D

9/1

Showed quite useful form over hurdles last winter, but failed to complete on final two starts, and again on chase debut at Cheltenham last month. Cheekpieces tried now, but he has something to prove.

Form: 171PP-P

Senior Citizen²⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 125

12/1

Won maiden at Chepstow on hurdles bow last season, but a little disappointing in handicaps on last two starts. Meeting superior rivals on chase debut now, and will do well to figure.

Form: 136406-

Stay Humble²⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| BF

40/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Sligo in August 2018 to add to bumper/point successes, but left Willie Mullins after finishing lame there in April, and questions to answer after an absence for new connections.

Form: 11454-6

The Big Bite⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 138

7/2

Won his first two starts over hurdles last season, and initially rated 145. Not gone on as expected since, but quite a raw sort, and may yet progress having had wind surgery prior to latest fourth of 7 to Master Tommytucker on Kempton chase debut.

Form: 11408-4

Turning Gold^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

7/1

Won a 2m handicap hurdle at Leicester a year ago, and ran to a similar level when third of 8 to Newtown Boy at Haydock last month. Not bred for chasing, but has physical scope, and one to note trying fences for the first time.

Form: 58/P17-3

Forecasts

Caribean Boy (10/3), The Big Bite (7/2), Cotswold Way (7/2), Garrettstown (6/1), Turning Gold (7/1), Nestor Park (9/1), Senior Citizen (12/1), Stay Humble (40/1)

Not the easiest race to weigh up, but the switch to Nicky Henderson won't do CARIBEAN BOY any harm, and he can make a winning debut over fences if running up to his best hurdles form. He doesn't have much room for error, however, and the likes of Cotswold Way and Garrettstown, who met at Ludlow last time, with the latter brought down when about to launch a challenge, will be snapping at his heels.