14:50 Doncaster

Friday 5 March 2021

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:54 | Winning time: 3m 58.2s

Galurin^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph

80/1

Failed to measure up to market expectations on British debut/sole start for Nicky Henderson in a Plumpton bumper, and well held both subsequent starts in maiden hurdles.

Form: 877

Gylo²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

1/1

Multiple Flat winner who shaped well when fourth of 13 on hurdles debut at Southwell in December. Wide-margin winner of a Newcastle jumpers bumper last time and he's not short of potential.

Form: 431

Mad Barry¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: R J Price

50/1

No impact in a couple of bumpers and while he showed more spark starting out over hurdles at Chepstow in October, he's probably more one for handicaps further down the line.

Form: 03-3

Sexyfish²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J J Davies| OR: 114

33/1

Fair form over hurdles in France, but improvement will most likely be required if he's to play a leading role on this British debut.

Form: 34PF-4

Timberman²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

1/1

Promise in bumper/novice hurdle for Nicky Henderson last winter, and has acquitted himself well in a couple of jumpers bumpers since returning to action for new yard in January. Major player.

Form: 225-4D

Lime Drop¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly

150/1

Well held in two bumpers and out with the washing on sole completed start in this sphere at Carlisle 17 days ago. Another who will be of greater interest when going down the handicap route.

Form: 7-7F9

Phil Healy³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

40/1

Showed a bit in bumpers and did the same when midfield on hurdling debut over C&D last month, albeit not enough to suggest that she'll be up to winning a race of this nature.

Form: 539

African Sun^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽⁷⁾| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

300/1

Has looked limited in various events.

Form: P60

Danger Money^p⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

12/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in Ireland for Andrew Oliver. Hurdles debut was low-key, but he subsequently shaped well in a jumpers bumper and can be expected to improve back in this sphere.

Form: 46

Non-Runners

Dobryn¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: S Thomas J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Timberman (1/1), Gylo (1/1), Dobryn (15/8), Danger Money (12/1), Sexyfish (33/1), Phil Healy (40/1), Mad Barry (50/1), Galurin (80/1), Lime Drop (150/1), African Sun (300/1)

It was a strong Sandown novice in which TIMBERMAN made a promising hurdles debut for Nicky Henderson, and there also plenty of positives to glean from his efforts in jumpers bumpers for new connections this season. He remains open to improvement and gets the nod ahead of Gylo, who was pretty impressive in a jumpers bumper at Newcastle last month. Danger Money is also well worth a second look.