13:53 Doncaster

Thursday 6 February 2020

All13:2313:5314:2314:5515:3016:0416:40

Betsafe Best Odds Guaranteed Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 4m 1.60s

Be Fair³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll

25/1

Newcomer to this sphere who is a fair sort on the Flat (won last time out at Kempton, 1m4f). Related to a winning hurdler, the yard are in decent form and he's one to note in the market exchanges.

Form:

Isolate¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| BF

6/1

Joined a yard well known for their expertise with this sort, he showed plenty of promise on the Flat last summer when with Martyn Meade. Failed to win on the Flat but was rated 74 and one of the more likely sorts.

Form:

Kangaroo Valley²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| BF

5/1

Useful on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien he's yet to match that form over hurdles failing to land a gamble last time out going the wrong way from his hurdles debut. Left Henry Oliver, this will be his first start for his new yard.

Form: 64

Leading Knight²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling

80/1

From a yard that are struggling to gain any momentum this season he looked in need of his debut experience over hurdles at Ludlow. Well related in the jumping sphere but looks one of the lesser lights in this contest.

Form: 7

Peckinpah²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 118

20/1

Fair sort on the Flat although he failed to win a race in that sphere and became disappointing. Both hurdles runs have been to a similar level finishing a fair third last month at Ludlow on his latest start; further progress needed to get involved.

Form: 43

Proton¹²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll

25/1

Didn't really progress on the Flat having won a Catterick maiden for Jedd O'Keeffe and was beaten in all his three handicaps. Hurdles/stable debut for a yard in good form who run two in this; not without a chance, watch the market.

Form:

Ride The Monkey⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

250/1

Regressive on the Flat for Michael Dods he's fared no better and if anything worse since going hurdling for this yard. Pulled up twice so far it would be a surprise to see him take a hand in this.

Form: PP

Rikoboy⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 131

7/1

Fairly useful form over obstacles in France without winning he was easy to back on his GB/stable debut at Cheltenham (needed the run). This looks a little easier than his last race and it would be no surprise to see him make a bold bid.

Form: 8-27236

Silkstone^p1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 115| C

12/1

Two decent hurdling efforts to his name flank a poor effort but it was felt he took a step forward over hurdles last time. Cheekpieces now added for the first-time in a bit to bring out some further improvement; in the mix.

Form: 262

Zoffee³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| BF

10/11

Highest-rated of those with a mark in this race he's made a positive start to his hurdling career without winning but second to a useful sort each time. Form of his last race to subsequent winner Blacko looks particularly strong; leading player.

Form: 22

Forecasts

Zoffee (10/11), Kangaroo Valley (5/1), Isolate (6/1), Rikoboy (7/1), Silkstone (12/1), Peckinpah (20/1), Be Fair (25/1), Proton (25/1), Leading Knight (80/1), Ride The Monkey (250/1)

It’s hard to ignore the run that ZOFFEE put up when he was second at Taunton last time, form which has been well advertised and after two runner-up slots he can go one better here. It won’t be easy though as there is some depth in the race with Rikoboy sure to give the selection plenty to do if he replicates his French form having looked to need the race last time. Several of the others have shown some fair hurdles form but it may well be that some of the newcomers like Isolate, Be Fair and Proton are bigger dangers with that trio having shown some good form on the Flat.