14:55 Doncaster

Friday 24 January 2020

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

First Race Special On Sky Bet Tomorrow Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 3.17s

Bear Valley^t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

25/1

76-rated three-time Flat scorer but well beaten on hurdles bow at Market Rasen in November and underwhelming back on the Flat since. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 6

Gaelik Coast⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

20/1

Bought for £110,000 after winning Irish maiden point on debut and was good runner-up on bumper debut at Bangor. Less pleasing when well beaten at Haydock and tired on hurdles bow 11 months later. May do better today.

Form: 1/25-6

One Fine Man³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

4/1

€110,000 purchase as a three-year-old. By top National-Hunt sire Jeremy. Running on fourth beaten 8L on hurdles bow at Ludlow a nice platform to build on and expected to make a bold bid here.

Form: 64

Passing Shadow¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

33/1

100/1 so fifth beaten 21L a respectable enough start over hurdles after two underwhelming efforts in bumpers beforehand. Still has plenty to find with the principles.

Form: 87-5

Rock On Rocco^t1⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

17/2

Placed in a point-to-point and twice ran respectably in bumpers earlier this year but pulled up on hurdles bow when he reportedly lost a shoe. Can do better today and tongue-tie may help him see out the full distance.

Form: P/33-7P

Yabass^p¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

9/2

Smart Flat performer for Archie Watson (rated 84) and stayed 2m so certainly won't have any problem stamina wise. Joined a respected yard so can be expected to jump soundly and could go well first time up.

Form:

Zacony Rebel²⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

16/1

Son of Getaway fell at the last when held in fourth in lone point-to-point. Hard to gauge him overall but represents smaller yard so probably best watched.

Form: F-

France De Reve⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

5/4

French bumper winner disappointed at Uttoxeter but much more like it when second at Taunton last time out. Can come on from that and has leading claims for yard exceptional with mare novice hurdlers.

Form: 1-72

Sorbet²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham

20/1

Ordinary Flat maiden showed glimpses of potential in two hurdle races to date but would be a surprise should she make the frame today.

Form: 533-65

Forecasts

France De Reve (5/4), One Fine Man (4/1), Yabass (9/2), Rock On Rocco (17/2), Zacony Rebel (16/1), Gaelik Coast (20/1), Sorbet (20/1), Bear Valley (25/1), Passing Shadow (33/1)

Nicky Henderson and JP McManus have made a habit of teaming up to great success with French-bred Mares in recent seasons and although FRANCE DE REVE hardly looks like the next Epatante she appeals as the most likely winner today after her Taunton second latest. Nigel Twiston-Davies charge One Fine Man ran well at Ludlow latest and he rates the biggest danger although hurdles debutant Yabass can't be taken lightly given his Flat class.