15:23 Doncaster

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All14:1814:5015:2315:5516:3017:02

Betsafe Cheltenham Championship Races NRNB Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 17.80s

Allart³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

1/5

Showed ability in his only bumper before falling on his hurdling debut but soon made amends by winning as an odds-on favourite at Ludlow last time. Still looks a bright prospect (travels well, can be keen); won with plenty in hand last time.

Form: 3-F1

Youracert¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| D

6/1

Irish point-to-point winner at the second attempt who came on for his debut over hurdles after undergoing a wind op. Left his debut form well behind when winning at Market Rasen in the summer; not seen since then, penalty and absence to overcome.

Form: P1-81

Countermand⁶⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander

50/1

Fairly useful on the Flat a while back for Andrew Balding over trips at up to 1m4f he offered little on his first try at hurdling for Denise Foster back in 2018. Now with another new yard he makes little appeal after a long absence.

Form: 0-

Red Nika⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

4/1

Point-to-point winner who offered something to work on from his hurdling debut at Hereford over 2m4f. Never lived up to that promise when returned to the same venue over a shorter trip (2m), kept to that trip here; needs to bounce back.

Form: 1-25

Tumbling Dice⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

40/1

Looked green or inexperienced in two Northern bumpers at Sedgefield and Catterick. Now makes his hurdling debut but looks as though he'll be brought along steadily and will be one for the longer-term.

Form: 85

Annebelle¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

33/1

Well held in a couple of bumpers at Bangor and Aintree he was a never dangerous on his hurdling debut at Wetherby recently. Would need a major step forward to get involved here; one for handicaps later on.

Form: 607

Viva Jez Vegas²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: T Collier

125/1

Well related sort who made an unpromising start to her career when beating just one home in a C&D bumper. Hard to imagine that she will be able to trouble the principals on her hurdling debut.

Form: 0

Bayaanaat²⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

33/1

Modest maiden on the Flat first for Dermot Weld (one run for the yard) and more recently Peter Hiatt. Showed little in that sphere including in a 1m2f handicap when last seen; in good hands but would need to show major improvement.

Form:

Bear Spray

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton

50/1

One of three that this top-class yard run in this with this one making his racecourse debut. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/useful chaser (2m/2m1f winner) Ted Veale; worth checking in the market versus his stablemates.

Form:

Rollo¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton

100/1

Nicely-bred sort with plenty of winners in her pedigree; made a stuttering start to his career when pulled up at Bangor in testing conditions (made mistakes). May do a little better with that experience tucked away, not one to get carried away with.

Form: P

Checkinforsquirels^h1

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton

66/1

Hurdling newcomer and one of three from a top-class yard in this. Half-sister to fair chaser Mission To Mars (2m winner) and bumper winner Ballyhooley Boy; hooded and amateur-ridden for her debut; best watched for now.

Form:

Postie²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: J M P Eustace

50/1

Modest staying maiden on the Flat for this yard who do have the odd jumping winner. Offered little on her hurdling debut after a four-month break ay Fakenham; hard to envisage her making much of an impression in this.

Form: 5

Non-Runners

Sadlermor¹²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Allart (1/5), Red Nika (4/1), Youracert (6/1), Sadlermor (25/1), Bayaanaat (33/1), Annebelle (33/1), Tumbling Dice (40/1), Postie (50/1), Countermand (50/1), Bear Spray (50/1), Checkinforsquirels (66/1), Rollo (100/1), Viva Jez Vegas (125/1)

There doesn’t look to be a major amount of strength in depth in this with the connections of ALLART looking to have found an excellent opportunity for him to build on his Ludlow win under a penalty; he still holds entries at Cheltenham in the Supreme and Ballymore. Youracert opened his hurdles account at Market Rasen last summer having had prior wind surgery he now has a significant absence to deal with but could slide into a place given the paucity of the opposition outside of the selection. Red Nika comes from a stable that do well with his sort and despite disappointing last time he looks the main threat. Bear Spray, Sadlermor and Annebelle are a trio worth noting for the future.