16:04 Doncaster

Thursday 6 February 2020

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

Betsafe Racing From Over 40 Countries Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:04 | Winning time: 4m 44.80s

Bannixtown Glory⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| BF

7/1

Her Sedgefield hurdles win in September was her second over timber and she's run well since in a couple of handicap starts. Returns from a fair absence off an acceptable mark and has to be considered in this company.

Form: 213143

Katy Royal¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J Kington| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 110

50/1

Last win came just over a year ago under enterprising tactics at Sedgefield over 1m further than she's asked to race today. Lightly-raced since that win she didn't really sparkle last time and is best watched for now.

Form: 631P-69

Precious Eleanor¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 109

8/1

Sound enough form when third in three consecutive novice hurdles all over 2m. Failed to improve on her handicap debut last time at Warwick, now upped in trip in a bid to find some further progress.

Form: 8-3335

Travel Lightly³⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 109

50/1

Returns from a fair absence having shown that she is a better hurdler than Flat performer. Ran poorly when last seen over hurdles although the test in the conditions may have been too much for her; more needed.

Form: 415235-

Getaway Mag⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

5/1

Shaped well enough on her second start over hurdles improving from her initial effort over timber. Failed to progress last time looking rather green still; may appreciate this step into handicaps over a slightly shorter trip.

Form: C1-776

Dieu Benisse²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 106

22/1

Ffos Las winner for Nicky Henderson over 2m she's yet to repeat that level of form for this yard producing another disappointing effort last time. Raced mainly at around 2m the yard is in good form and it's too soon to write her off.

Form: 5-154F5

Court Glory⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 106

14/1

Shown promise in all her three hurdles starts and looks the sort to have been brought along with handicaps in mind. Not knocked about last time over 2m1f at Aintree; now up in trip (should suit) for her handicap debut.

Form: 3F1-566

Queen Of The Wind^t1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106

18/1

Three-time winner over hurdles who failed to come on for her comeback run last time but did shape better than the bare result. May well be closer to her wining form this time with a first-time tongue-tie applied; one for the shortlist.

Form: 7119-75

Miss Gemstone³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 105

8/1

Modest form in bumpers and has yet to even achieve that level over hurdles in four attempts including on her handicap debut last time. Worth a try back over this sort of trip but can't be relied on off this sort of mark.

Form: 77-2554

Keep The River^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 105

7/1

Caught the eye on her last two starts having fallen down the handicap after some moderate performances. Given plenty to do on her penultimate start she showed enough last time to be of interest with the cheekpieces back on.

Form: 6-05F33

Pixiepot^p¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P D Niven| OR: 104

25/1

Debut bumper winner who took an age to record her first hurdles win but she's failed to add to that tally since. Lightly-raced since her hurdles win she ran no sort of race when last seen and remains in the grip of the handicapper.

Form: 21/3-520

Break The Rules¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽⁷⁾| T: Martin Smith| OR: 112

14/1

Fair sort on the Flat who has yet to build on the positive start she made to her hurdles career at Fakenham in two subsequent hurdles starts. Now goes handicapping for the first time; rider rode his first career win yesterday at Ludlow.

Form: 203

See Forever^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 100| BF

7/1

Fitted with first-time hood/tongue-tie when winning on her stable debut at Uttoxeter in December off a 3lb lower mark. Failed to repeat that form when last seen (showed some quirks); may need a stiffer test than is provided here.

Form: B464-15

April Rising¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S A Harris| OR: 98

66/1

Flat maiden who hasn't shown any improvement over hurdles in four attempts. Ought to be better off in handicaps and makes her debut in that sphere here although her mark is a lenient one; others appeal far more.

Form: 9P64

Shine Baby Shine³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 94

7/1

Not seen over hurdles since being pulled up in a Worcester handicap in August. Has performed far better on the AW since then and arrives here fit for another try over hurdles; nicely handicapped on her Flat form.

Form: P5PP7-P

Soft Summer Rain⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 100

20/1

Ridden with an eye to the future on all her three hurdles starts so far although her last two starts have failed to match her debut form. Makes her handicap debut; won't come as a surprise if she produces a more forward display.

Form: 5P7

Non-Runners

Sandymount Rose⁵³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Getaway Mag (5/1), Sandymount Rose (11/2), Bannixtown Glory (7/1), See Forever (7/1), Shine Baby Shine (7/1), Keep The River (7/1), Precious Eleanor (8/1), Miss Gemstone (8/1), Court Glory (14/1), Break The Rules (14/1), Queen Of The Wind (18/1), Soft Summer Rain (20/1), Dieu Benisse (22/1), Pixiepot (25/1), Travel Lightly (50/1), Katy Royal (50/1), April Rising (66/1)

A challenging handicap to solve with several of these looking as though they could step up on their last performances. Sandymount Rose has the look of a mare who has further progress in her although she will have to show that she can cope with this drop in trip. That epithet also applies to Keep The River who ran over 3m1f last time but has looked to be nearing her peak again. Court Glory would be of interest if her yard was in better form whilst Getaway Mag and Shine Baby Shine can’t be dismissed easily. A chance is taken on QUEEN OF THE WIND who wears a tongue-tie for the first time having shaped better than the bare result at Chepstow last time, any market support would be significant.