17:05 Doncaster

Friday 5 March 2021

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

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 4m 40.20s

The Knot Is Tied¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N B King| OR: 109| D

12/1

Offered little last season and similar story in 2 starts this term despite a sliding mark. Visor that was tried last time discarded here.

Form: PPP5-89

Phantomoftheoscar²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 109

25/1

Promise in a warm bumper at Newbury on debut in November. Third-place finish over hurdles at Wetherby flanked by lesser efforts but a potential improver now handicapping.

Form: 8830

Bard Of Brittany^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 109

8/1

Fair hurdler who ran right up to his best when second at Plumpton on reappearance. No real impact in various company since but this test of stamina is at least more suitable.

Form: 243-260

Linger^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 109| DWS

80/1

Doesn't appear to retain much ability nowadays. Has had a wind operation.

Form: 8990-PP

Spanish Jump⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

17/2

Left debut form behind on the back of a wind op when third in 2m Warwick novice. Failed to build on that at Taunton since, but improvement possible now that he goes into handicaps up in trip.

Form: 638

Methag⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 108| CD

9/1

Dual 20f winner last season and runner-up twice during the autumn. Failed to stay over 3m at this venue when last seen in December so that run can be overlooked.

Form: 862527

Heart Of A Lion³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 108

11/4

Fairly useful bumper winner who shaped well when runner-up in 2m novice hurdles at Huntingdon and Taunton this term. Fifth in a jumpers bumper a month ago and he's very interesting on handicap debut.

Form: 1-8225

Henri Le Bon^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 107

6/1

Fair maiden hurdler in 2019/20 but this season has been disappointing so far, failing to improve for a breathing op and application of a tongue strap last month. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 032-669

Get With It⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 106

12/1

Hinted at ability in pair of bumpers and similarly showed a bit when plugging on for fourth on Carlisle hurdles bow (17f) in October. Weakened out of it at Ayr the following month.

Form: 65-44

Daranova²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D Loughnane| OR: 106

20/1

Fair maiden in bumpers last season but seems to be going the wrong way tried in carious company.

Form: 255P90

Passing Shadow⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 101| BF

13/2

Without a win but ended 220 n the up, finding only one too good in a brace of handicaps at up to 20.7f. No reason why he won't be competitive again.

Form: 593-522

Scrutinise^p¹¹⁷

20/1

Resumed winning ways after 7 months off in 10-runner handicap at Stratford in October, edging ahead near finish. Placed both starts since at that venue and now up in trip following a wind op.

Form: 842-123

Stylish Dancer³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 92

22/1

Would be a danger to all if reproducing something akin to peak 2018 form. Never a factor back on the AW in January for John Spearing and back with former yard.

Form: 230798/

Diakosaint¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 90

20/1

Winning Irish pointer at third attempt in December. Hard to get excited by what he's achieved in his qualifying runs but is surely capable of a lot better.

Form: P415P9

Dalkadam⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 75

66/1

Poor handicap hurdler nowadays and has it to do from out of the weights.

Form: 4/5P-P40

Non-Runners

Always Resolute⁵¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Kloud Gate⁴³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Drewmain Legend⁸²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: A Stronge J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Heart Of A Lion (11/4), Henri Le Bon (6/1), Passing Shadow (13/2), Bard Of Brittany (8/1), Spanish Jump (17/2), Methag (9/1), The Knot Is Tied (12/1), Get With It (12/1), Kloud Gate (14/1), Drewmain Legend (14/1), Always Resolute (16/1), Daranova (20/1), Diakosaint (20/1), Scrutinise (20/1), Stylish Dancer (22/1), Phantomoftheoscar (25/1), Dalkadam (66/1), Linger (80/1)

If there's a runner with the potential to be a long way ahead of their mark it's surely HEART OF A LION, who was good enough to win a bumper and his qualifying runs over hurdles were pretty promising. Passing Shadow is a solid opponent, while Spanish Jump is also a likely improver.