15:35 Doncaster

Saturday 29 February 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

888Sport Grimthorpe Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 7m 7.9s

Yalltari⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 144| BF

5/1

Progressive hurdler who took well to fences winning at Chepstow in handicap company before running with credit at Grade 2 level. Well backed on his return he might not have been ideally placed on that occasion; looks on a good mark, one for the short

Form: 1/21F3-8

Worthy Farm^b³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

9/4

Blinkers look to have been the making of him winning his last two since being fitted with that headgear landing back-to-back heavy ground Wincanton staying handicaps. Trip should hold no fears despite a 7lb rise, one of the leading players.

Form: 17-7611

Aaron Lad³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 136

9/1

Off the mark over fences when returning to something like his best hurdles form at Exeter beating two rivals. May well have benefitted from the plenty of fences being omitted; this will be much more of a test with the stable rather quiet currently.

Form: 106-P31

Captain Chaos^b⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

9/2

Back to form last time belying his recent rather patchy record with a second at Warwick in a good-class staying chase under an aggressive ride. Blinkers appeared to perk him up and would have claims if that headgear works as well this time around.

Form: 6-6P2P2

Fortified Bay^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J Candlish| OR: 132

6/1

Improved past his useful hurdling form over fences winning his last two having travelled much more kindly last-time when wearing first-time cheekpieces. Done well since joining this yard and can't be ruled out despite a 7lb rise in the weights.

Form: 224511

Ascot De Bruyere^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 127

12/1

Form this season has been way below his best and he gave sign of going the wrong way temperamentally last time (raced very lazily). Handicapper continues to give him a chance but he remains above his last winning mark; limited appeal.

Form: 112-364

Cesar Et Rosalie^p,t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 122

5/1

Consistent sort still at the right end of the handicap although his recent starts leave some question marks about his claims in this. Failed to complete at Wincanton last time (first-time cheekpieces) with his previous start below-par.

Form: 5-1F35U

Non-Runners

Definitly Red⁴²

Weight: 12-7| Age: 11

T: B Ellison J: 2nd Preference

Saint Xavier²⁷

Weight: 12-1| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: 2nd Preference

Boldmere²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Mrs Caroline Bailey J: James Bowen

Chidswell³⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 11

T: N G Richards J: R D Day

Forecasts

Worthy Farm (9/4), Captain Chaos (9/2), Yalltari (5/1), Cesar Et Rosalie (5/1), Boldmere (5/1), Fortified Bay (6/1), Chidswell (7/1), Definitly Red (8/1), Aaron Lad (9/1), Ascot De Bruyere (12/1), Saint Xavier (12/1)

A decent renewal even if 2017 winner Definitely Red and Saint Xavier take up their first preference at Kelso. In that event we still have a competitive event with recent Wincanton scorer Worthy Farm a leading prospect along with Boldmere as long as that one has recovered from his crashing last time out fall. Last year’s winner Chidswell has to be respected although this looks a deeper contest this year. Fortified Bay wouldn’t be out of this if it turns into a real slog but the vote goes to YALLTARI. On the face of it his return at Ascot was disappointing but he showed up well for a long way on what appeared the worst part of the track and still resides on a good mark.