14:52 Doncaster

Friday 11 December 2020

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

attheraces.com Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 6m 28.14s

Lord Scoundrel^p,t²⁸⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 127| D

11/2

One-time smart chaser for Gordon Elliott who made a winning start in points in February. Not beaten far in a hunter chase at Musselburgh later that month and resumes on an attractive mark.

Form: P047/14-

Dark Flame³⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 121| D

9/2

Proved that he retains plenty of ability last season, acquitting himself well in trio of Sandown handicaps (one of which was a void race) off higher marks than this. One for the shortlist.

Form: 624/2V5-

Horatio Hornblower^p³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: Nick Williams| OR: 120| CD

17/2

Winner of this race off 1 lb higher mark last year, but efforts so far this season have been uninspiring and there's no obvious reason to anticipate a revival.

Form: 5/11U-07

Rathlin Rose^b¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 120| D

15/2

Grand servant for connections who has done most of his winning at Sandown and Ascot. However, it's been a while since he last put his best foot forward and others make more appeal.

Form: V037-P6

Nightline³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 119| BF| D

8/1

Pulled up sole start last term, but showed more spark on return at Kempton and probably would've won had he not unshipped Paul O'Brien at the final fence at Huntingdon (23.6f) last time. Key player.

Form: P51/P-5U

Oh Land Abloom^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 118

6/1

Best effort yet over fences when runner-up at Huntingdon last month (albeit probably would've finished third had Nightline completed). However, not so good at Uttoxeter since and looks vulnerable.

Form: 210/P-24

Chasma^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Max Kendrick| T: A W Carroll| OR: 114

50/1

Rejuvenated over fences for Dan Skelton last season, performing consistently after winning at Newton Abbot in the summer. Hasn't shown much spark in 2 starts for new yard this time round, though.

Form: 2253-64

Vice Et Vertu^b⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 114| D

20/1

Talented chaser when on-song, but he's never been the most reliable of performers and needs to bounce back following a couple of poor displays.

Form: 317-2PP

Raven's Tower¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁶⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 111

14/1

On a long losing run, but his mark reflects that and a reproduction of his effort at Kempton in October (third in a 3m handicap chase off this mark) would give him an each-way chance.

Form: 0-45535

Twojayslad^p,t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96| D

4/1

Didn't shape badly when returning from a lengthy layoff here in February, and found just one too good back from a 10-month absence at Uttoxeter (3m) 19 days ago. Needs considering off the same mark.

Form: 7P3P/6-2

Non-Runners

Silver Tassie²⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 12

T: Micky Hammond J: Billy Garritty

Forecasts

Twojayslad (4/1), Dark Flame (9/2), Lord Scoundrel (11/2), Oh Land Abloom (6/1), Rathlin Rose (15/2), Nightline (8/1), Horatio Hornblower (17/2), Raven's Tower (14/1), Silver Tassie (14/1), Vice Et Vertu (20/1), Chasma (50/1)

NIGHTLINE appeared to be holding the aces when parting company with Paul O'Brien at the final fence at Huntingdon last month and, still feasibly treated despite a 3 lb rise, he is taken to atone for that mishap here. Dark Flame resumes on a mark 4 lb lower than that off which he was fifth at Sandown on his final start of last season and is second choice ahead of Twojayslad.