14:55 Doncaster

Wednesday 24 February 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:05

Virgin Bet EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 55.55s

A Large One Please^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| D

50/1

Sprung a surprise when 33/1 debut winner of novice hurdle (33/1) at Catterick in December, despite bad error at the last. Went backwards from that when well held at Wetherby since so more needed here.

Form: 3-415

Jeremy Pass^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

4/1

Little impact in bumpers but looked a good prospect in making a winning hurdling bow after 11 months off at Wincanton in November. Pulled up at Ascot 32 days ago so must bounce back from that.

Form: F/35-1P

Patroclus³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124

1/1

Bought for £150,000 after finishing second in Irish point. Promise when runner-up in a Warwick maiden on Rules debut in December and duly went one better at Exeter last month. Should improve further.

Form: 2-21

Riggs⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

7/4

Made second handicap start a winning one when seeing off 10 rivals at Uttoxeter in November. Probably just undone by a 9 lb higher mark at Kempton on Boxing Day but holds leading claims in this.

Form: 642-613

Freethinker^h⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

250/1

Ran with promise on Newbury bumper debut but has gone the wrong way since, looking awkward when well held in a novice hurdle at this course (16.6f, soft) 44 days ago.

Form: 69U0

Get Prepared⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

14/1

Cost £60,000 after winning sole point in March 2019. Backed at long odds but failed to meet expectations when only tenth of 15 in novice hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f, heavy) on NH debut 64 days ago.

Form: 1/0

Mauritian Bolt¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson

100/1

Promise when runner-up on first start in a bumper at Hexham in October but couldn't even match what he'd seemed to achieve there 3 weeks later and now makes his hurdles bow after 4 months off.

Form: 24

Son Of The Somme

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby

125/1

£13,000 5-y-o, Yeats gelding. Closely related to fairly useful hurdler Trevelyn's Corn. Dam (h75) bumper winner. Worth a market check on debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Patroclus (1/1), Riggs (7/4), Jeremy Pass (4/1), Get Prepared (14/1), A Large One Please (50/1), Mauritian Bolt (100/1), Son Of The Somme (125/1), Freethinker (250/1)

PATROCLUS justified strong support in going one better than on debut at Exeter just over 5 weeks ago, rallying well to lead late on having looked held by the runner-up late. This step back up in trip is sure to suit and there should be plenty more to come from Nicky Henderson's charge. Riggs rates as an obvious threat back after a couple of months off, ahead of Jeremy Pass.