15:10 Doncaster

Friday 29 January 2021

All13:0013:3214:0514:3715:1015:4516:17

First Race Special On Sky Bet Tomorrow Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 23.3s

Lunar Sovereign^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

9/2

Fair form in bumpers and made a winning start over hurdles in thin 2m Wetherby novice over Christmas. This is a lot tougher and he'll likely need to pull out more to defy a penalty.

Form: 65631

Biblical^h1⁶³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| BF

125/1

Touched off in Wetherby bumper for John Quinn in March 2019 before disappointing at Ayr for this yard 6 weeks later (saddle slipped). Not seen since and has hood fitted for this hurdles debut.

Form: 2/0-

Cronk Y Knox⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales

250/1

Green when well held in bumper for Warren Greatrex/little impact over hurdles for current yard.

Form: 0-90

Flinteur Sacre^h1⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

11/10

Brother to Sprinter Sacre and won Kempton bumper easily a year ago. Shaped well in traditionally-warm Newbury maiden on hurdles bow/return in November, not knocked about. Hood goes on. More to come.

Form: 21-4

Fugitif^t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: R Hobson| OR: 118WS

50/1

Third in a 4-y-o hurdle at Nantes in France in October 2019 a standout effort. Has had a wind op since last run 8 weeks ago and would make more appeal in a handicap.

Form: 57/3-56

Grangeclare Glory^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

25/1

€90,000 Fame And Glory gelding from good NH family. Showed a lot more on hurdles debut at Plumpton (2m) on recent return after wind op, shaping like a stayer. Should do better in time.

Form: 49-4

Jack Sharp⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A Ralph

15/8

Half-brother to useful hurdler/very smart chaser Mister Fisher. Belied market weakness and ran a race full of promise when third on hurdles debut over C&D 7 weeks ago. Open to significant improvement.

Form: 3

Just Magic⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

200/1

Just a modest maiden on the Flat (up to around 8.6f) but is a half-brother to hurdles and bumper winners for owner.

Form:

Monticello⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: N Mechie

300/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Mark Johnston back in 2017 but missing well over 3 years and has shown little in novice hurdle/jumpers' bumper this month.

Form: 40

Obey The Rules¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D McCain Jnr

22/1

Cost £20,000 after finishing runner-up on his second start in Irish points. Could be up against a few smart prospects on hurdles bow.

Form: P-2

On Springs¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

40/1

Second in bumper last January but seemingly being brought along gradually, well held in 2 hurdles this term (bled on return).

Form: 72-97

Raven Court⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

66/1

Shaped promisingly when third on hurdles debut in 2m Kempton novice last season, but that proved to be his final run for Philip Hobbs (sold £28,000) and he offered little on return here 7 weeks ago.

Form: 368/3-0

Red Centre^t1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J GuerrieroWS

200/1

Fairly useful maiden at up to 1½m on Flat for John Gosden. Joined a good stable but offered little sent hurdling at Sedgefield last month. Has had a wind operation since (also now tongue tied).

Form: 6

Walk In The Wild¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood

80/1

From successful French NH family but shaped as if he'll need more time and a trip on debut in Hereford bumper in October.

Form: 4

Ferney Green⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards

150/1

17/2, looked badly in need of the experience in Musselburgh mares' bumper on debut in November.

Form: 0

Isthebaropen^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer

250/1

Suspect she's better than she's shown so far over hurdles, fading after 5 months off over further here recently. Looks one for handicaps. Also engaged 1.10 Huntingdon.

Form: P/384-57

Phil Healy²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

66/1

Just modest form in a brace of bumpers, including when keeping on for third in AW event at Newcastle 3 weeks ago.

Form: 53

Starvoski^t1⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

20/1

Won sole point but disappointed when pulled up on 21.5f Wincanton hurdle debut last month. Down in trip now with a tongue strap added. Should be capable of better.

Form: 1-P

Forecasts

Flinteur Sacre (11/10), Jack Sharp (15/8), Lunar Sovereign (9/2), Starvoski (20/1), Obey The Rules (22/1), Grangeclare Glory (25/1), On Springs (40/1), Fugitif (50/1), Raven Court (66/1), Phil Healy (66/1), Walk In The Wild (80/1), Biblical (125/1), Ferney Green (150/1), Just Magic (200/1), Red Centre (200/1), Isthebaropen (250/1), Cronk Y Knox (250/1), Monticello (300/1)

There is likely plenty more to come from FLINTEUR SACRE, a full-brother to the mighty Sprinter Sacre, after his promising start over hurdles at Newbury. He pulled hard then but wasn't given at all a hard time once his chance had gone and can leave that form behind with headgear fitted here. The clear danger is Jack Sharp, who made a very encouraging debut here 7 weeks ago and can do a lot better.