13:15 Doncaster

Friday 24 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2514:5515:2515:55

Sporting Life EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 44.87s

Ashtown Lad⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

13/2

Rules debutant by crack sire Flemensfirth was twice placed in points before emphatically winning at Knockinroe in October. Joined prolific yard so likely to make his presence felt first time up.

Form: F3-21

Buzz De Turcoing^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: S Drinkwater

6/1

Point winner made no impression at Cheltenham last April but fared a little better at Newbury last month despite only finishing fifth of the 17 runners. More needed to make the frame but it's entirely possible.

Form: 16-5

Getabuck²⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: A Stronge

150/1

Won easily in a five-runner maiden point last March but made no impression afterwards in a bumper at Exeter. Will have to improve massively on that.

Form: 5/P219-

Glynn³⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

15/8

Quite impressive when winning point-to-point on sole start in March and subsequently sold to top connections for £85,000. Now hurdling for top yard and expected to go close first time up.

Form: 1-

Laxey⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 120WS

20/1

Held some smart pieces of form to his name in defeat last season, but has a point to prove after being pulled-up on seasonal return at Sandown (2m4f; heavy) in a handicap back in November. Returns to novice company.

Form: 54542-P

Numitor⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: H Main

50/1

Moderate efforts in bumpers at Warwick and Newbury showed a glimmer of hope but not nearly enough to merit getting involved today.

Form: 5-8

Orburstock^b1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

150/1

Little to write home about in two bumpers and pulled up on hurdles bow at Catterick. Blinkers reached for but he remains a work in progress.

Form: 7-9P

Papa Tango Charly³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

7/4

Cost an eye-watering £440,000 after winning lone point-to-point and should soon begin to repay that fee after back-to-back seconds, the latest behind unbeaten Cheltenham prospect The Big Breakaway. Fancied here.

Form: 1-722

Shattered Glass²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore

100/1

Point winner beaten in excess of 50L in both starts over Rules so makes no appeal at this stage.

Form: P-107

The Brass Man²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

9/1

Bought for €110,000 after winning a Tipperary bumper for Mags Mullins and is certainly an intriguing contender on hurdles bow. Market support would be very notable.

Form: 3-1

Williams Overture²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: David Dennis

200/1

Three starts yielded a tailed off 10th of 11, a fall and a pulled up. Makes no appeal.

Form: 0FP

Non-Runners

Emphatic Qualm³⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Trincomalee²⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

What'llbewillbe⁵⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Jack Barber J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Papa Tango Charly (7/4), Glynn (15/8), Trincomalee (11/2), Buzz De Turcoing (6/1), Ashtown Lad (13/2), The Brass Man (9/1), Emphatic Qualm (12/1), Laxey (20/1), What'llbewillbe (25/1), Numitor (50/1), Shattered Glass (100/1), Getabuck (150/1), Orburstock (150/1), Williams Overture (200/1)

Although so far he has done little to justify his massive price tag PAPA TANGO CHARLY has done enough to suggest he can win races and although his future almost certainly lies over fences, his 7L second to an exciting prospect last time out marks him out as the one to side with today. Thrice-placed Trincomalee looks sure to be involved again although the greatest threat to the selection may come from Glynn who represents the all-conquering Nicky Henderson yard which is in flying form.