14:00 Doncaster

Friday 28 February 2020

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

888Sport Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 30.6s

Bako De La Saulaie¹²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 122| D

16/1

Returns from a break having disappointed when he was last seen at Aintree (pulled up). Some decent efforts prior to that but for all his consistency he's yet to win over fences; may just need a further ease in the weights.

Form: 24/322-P

Big Nasty³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Keighley| OR: 122

6/1

Produced a career-best on his first run back from a wind op benefiting from not only the surgery but an ease in grade and step back up to this trip. Usually prominently ridden he looks the sort who could well break his maiden over fences soon.

Form: 42-42P2

Florrie Knox^p1⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 120

10/1

Useful sort over hurdles with some consistent efforts to his name although he's yet to match his form in that sphere over the larger obstacles. Failed to improve from his chasing debut last time; eased 3lb but still looks a touch high in the weights.

Form: 2/45-536

Garrane^p⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 120| D

14/1

0-9 over fences and despite several placed efforts is developing a rather inconsistent profile failing to impress last time out over 3m4f (wore first-time cheekpieces). Would need t step up on recent efforts to take a hand in this back at 3m.

Form: P32-737

Sizing At Midnight⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

20/1

Dual winner over hurdles taking back-to-back handicaps in early 2019; seen sparingly since those successes. Faced a stiff task when sent chasing last time in a Ludlow novice; now up to 3m which raises a question mark back in a handicap.

Form: 2-11794

Flying Verse^p,t¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 115| BF| D

28/1

Dual chase winner with both victories coming when he was on a going day (not always the case; has his quirks) in 2019. Returns from an absence with a little to prove off this increased mark with the yard having had a below-par season.

Form: 551513

Midnight Moss²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 115

9/2

Emphasised the positive start he's made to life with this yard when showing plenty of promise on his chasing debut at Huntingdon. Failed by 4L to track down a game front-runner (often hard to do at that track); bold effort expected this time.

Form: 2/14232

Volt Face^t⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: P R Webber| OR: 113

40/1

Losing run continues to grow (last win in 2014) and his chasing record now reads a rather unappealing 0-16. His form of late either side of the New Year has done little to inspire and it's hard to see him transforming from his recent tepid starts.

Form: 425-2F7

Brigade of Guards^t1,v⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 112WS

80/1

Maiden who has yet to improve on his previous starts since being switched to this yard. Profile includes a lot more negatives than positives as he returns from a wind op but with a first-time tongue-tie applied; limited appeal.

Form: 7783-03

Seemingly So^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 112

12/1

Cost £100,00 when bought out of the pointing field but despite a debut hurdles win he's yet to really click under Rules. Dropped 3lb from his last hurdles mark for his chasing debut; sort who looks to do better in this sphere; note a market move.

Form: 1347-P3

Minella Examiner^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109| CD

9/4

Took a step forward from a chasing debut where he offered little when falling in first-time cheekpieces at Wetherby (still looked the likely winner). Made amends for that mishap last time over C&D despite some ease in the market; more to come.

Form: 7-930F1

From The Heart^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106| BF

6/1

Took advantage of a more positive ride and a lenient mark to build on his chasing debut when winning off a 7lb lower mark at Taunton. Ran respectably last time up in grade (patient ride not ideal); proven off this mark, hard to ignore on recent form.

Form: 0-48213

Forecasts

Minella Examiner (9/4), Midnight Moss (9/2), Big Nasty (6/1), From The Heart (6/1), Florrie Knox (10/1), Seemingly So (12/1), Garrane (14/1), Bako De La Saulaie (16/1), Sizing At Midnight (20/1), Flying Verse (28/1), Volt Face (40/1), Brigade of Guards (80/1)

An interesting handicap chase to start the card; C&D winner MINELLA EXAMINER is still at the right end of the handicap and had he not fallen at Wetherby would be searching for a hat-trick here but his win last time was gained with plenty in hand and he’s taken to follow up. He may not have things all his own way though with From The Heart and Midnight Moss a duo that look capable of progressing in this sphere, the former in good form of late and the latter thriving with his current yard. Others to note are Big Nasty who looks to have benefitted from his wind op and chasing debutante Seemingly So for whom positive market vibes would be a plus.