11:55 Doncaster

Friday 11 December 2020

All11:5512:3213:0713:4214:1714:5215:25

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:55 | Winning time: 4m 7.19s

Xcitations²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 120

11/4

Raised his game a notch when getting off the mark at Huntingdon (15.8f) last month. 5 lb rise fair enough and should make his presence felt.

Form: F37-271

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Hazzaar²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 119

11/4

Didn't go on as hoped in maiden/novice hurdles for Venetia Williams last term, but step forward when fifth of 17 on return/handicap bow at Cheltenham (16.4f). High on the shortlist.

Form: 17/349-5

Fisher Green^t³⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 117| CWS

100/1

Back on the scoreboard at Musselburgh last November, but well held next 2 starts and probably worth taking on back from an 11-month absence. Has undergone wind surgery.

Form: 210158-

Hooper²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117| BF

7/2

Ready Stratford bumper winner in September and has subsequently hit the crossbar in maiden hurdles at Market Rasen and Southwell. Major player on handicap debut.

Form: 6-122

Aquila Sky^t1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 115

11/1

Reappearance effort was low-key, but stepped up on that when third on handicap debut at Warwick (19f) last time. Now tried in a tongue strap and this drop in trip looks a good move.

Form: 984-73

Nightboattoclyro²⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 115

9/2

Landed 19f Chepstow novice last December, but failed to progress both subsequent starts and improvement needed on this return/debut for new yard.

Form: 3/6B136-

Metro Boulot Dodo¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 110

33/1

Opened account in 11-runner Carlisle handicap hurdle last October, but made an inauspicious start to this season at Ayr recently.

Form: 53/331-P

Perfect City⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110

22/1

Made a winning handicap bow in this sphere off 5 lb lower mark at Uttoxeter in July. Blinkers removed following a couple of poor efforts and needs to bounce back.

Form: 172469

Borodin^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 109

16/1

Having landed a gamble on the Flat at Yarmouth in October, he bettered previous hurdles form when fourth in a Market Rasen maiden last time. Open to improvement on handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 7P0-4

Volunteer¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: S L Keightley| OR: 104

100/1

Runner-up a couple of times in bumpers and in a maiden hurdle Fakenham in January. However, no show in 2 starts so far this season and needs to get back on track now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 2802-00

Forecasts

Hazzaar (11/4), Xcitations (11/4), Hooper (7/2), Nightboattoclyro (9/2), Aquila Sky (11/1), Borodin (16/1), Perfect City (22/1), Metro Boulot Dodo (33/1), Volunteer (100/1), Fisher Green (100/1)

Back with his former yard after a spell with Venetia Williams, HAZZAAR made a highly encouraging reappearance in a big-field Cheltenham handicap last month and there should be better to come. He gets the nod ahead of Hooper and Borodin, both of whom may improve now pitched into a handicap. Recent Huntingdon winner Xcitations and Aquila Sky also enter calculations in a competitive race.