14:40 Doncaster

Tuesday 14 January 2020

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

Sky Bet Britain's Most Popular Online Bookmaker Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 23.30s

Ask Henry¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

25/1

Fair form for Mags Mullins in bumpers, and better effort over hurdles when fourth of 9 to Imperil in maiden at Fakenham last time. Will be suited by this more galloping track, but needs to improve.

Form: 3/44-3P4

Borodin¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

80/1

Useful handicapper on the Flat for Richard Fahey, but weakened as if stamina stretched on hurdles debut over C&D for new yard last month, and then ran poorly on AW at Wolverhampton later in the month. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 7

Crack Du Ninian³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

100/1

Winner of his only start in point-to-points, but limited impact over hurdles, his best effort when 36L sixth of 12 to Young Bull in novice at Wetherby last time. One for handicaps after another run.

Form: 1-786

Everything For You¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

25/1

Won valuable Ripon handicap over 1½m in the summer, and should take to hurdles given stamina and useful Flat ability, but failed to build on the mild encouragement of his Wetherby debut when well beaten at Taunton last time.

Form: 57

Global Society²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

5/2

Runner-up on all three starts in bumpers for Gordon Elliott, albeit beaten at short odds each time. Has made an intriguing move to another leading trainer for hurdles debut, and demands respect.

Form: 222

Le Grand Fromage^t1⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: T LaceyWS

5/1

Beaten favourite on his hurdles debut in a Hereford maiden, and stopped quickly at Wetherby a few weeks later. Ha since had wind surgery, and now tongue tied, and clearly thought capable of better.

Form: 2P

Look Alive^t1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R GeorgeWS

25/1

Brother to the useful Ardlethen, won his only Irish point-to-point and changed hands thereafter for decent money. Has been beaten a fair way in a bumper and a novice hurdle at Taunton, but no surprise to see him do better.

Form: 1-65

Perfect Predator³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 123

5/4

Bumper winner who has been runner-up in two of three starts over hurdles, including over an extended 2m here last time. Every chance on form, although needs to brush up his jumping technique.

Form: 212-272

Tartan Bute⁴²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards

40/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Mark Johnston, although has only raced once since winning at Lingfield in March 2017. Hard to know what to expect on debut for new yard now switching codes.

Form:

Unai³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

10/1

Showed plenty when third on sole bumper outing in March, and better than the bare result when fourth of 11 to Malystic in maiden at Musselburgh on hurdling debut. Will improve, and not ruled out.

Form: 3-4

Inawhilecrocodile⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon

28/1

Showed ability in a bumper at Newbury in November, and not persevered with when ninth of 13 to Kissesforkatie in a 2m5f mares maiden at Wincanton on hurdling debut. Will do better at some point, but needs to settle.

Form: 69

Oliver's Betty¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: G Boanas

200/1

Showed nothing on sole start for Mick Appleby on the Flat, and well held starting out for new yard over hurdles at Catterick late last month.

Form: 0

Kings Royal Hussar^h1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: James Bowen| T: A King

16/1

Better hurdles effort when third of 14 to Lord Lamington in juvenile at Market Rasen on debut, but not disgraced when fifth of 6 to Rowland Ward at Kempton last time. Gets a valuable weight allowance here, and wears a hood for the first time.

Form: 35

Non-Runners

Down To The Sea¹⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: M Bradstock J: J E Moore

Be Thankful⁷⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 5

T: M Keighley J: Patrick Cowley

Forecasts

Perfect Predator (5/4), Global Society (5/2), Le Grand Fromage (5/1), Unai (10/1), Kings Royal Hussar (16/1), Ask Henry (25/1), Look Alive (25/1), Everything For You (25/1), Inawhilecrocodile (28/1), Tartan Bute (40/1), Be Thankful (50/1), Down To The Sea (66/1), Borodin (80/1), Crack Du Ninian (100/1), Oliver's Betty (200/1)

PERFECT PREDATOR sets what is just a fair standard, but he seems likely to give his running and may do better assuming he can improve his jumping in this sphere. Stablemate Kings Royal Hussar gets lumps of weight as a juvenile, and could turn out to be the main danger if taking to a hood, although Global Society and Unai are others open to significant improvement, and could easily spoil the party.