13:45 Doncaster

Saturday 6 March 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 0.20s

En Meme Temps^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 121

11/1

Turned in one of his better efforts when runner-up over C&D in December, but subsequent display at Wetherby left much to be desired and he's opposable on balance.

Form: 23-6026

Monarchofthegrange^h³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119

20/1

Improved when runner-up on handicap debut at Leicester in November. Perhaps best to overlook C&D run next time and latest effort in a jumpers bumper was respectable, but others preferred all the same.

Form: 63-8285

Meteorite¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 117| D

16/1

Improved again when second in 2m Plumpton handicap on reappearance in November. However, he has bombed out both starts since, including when tried over fences following a wind op at Fontwell recently.

Form: 621-27P

Hydroplane¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 115| D

11/10

Opened hurdles account at Market Rasen in December and had plenty left up his sleeve when landing a jumpers bumper at Lingfield 19 days ago. Probably remains on a fair mark and he's a major player.

Form: 4-68131

Lively Citizen⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 113

13/8

Belied odds of 33/1 when landing a big-field Cheltenham handicap in November. Lost no caste in defeat back there (16.8f, soft) the following month and another bold show is very much on the cards.

Form: 223512

Ginistrelli^t¹⁸⁵

33/1

Dual Flat winner and successful on hurdes debut for new yard at Uttoxeter last July. However, failed to build on that at Southwell next time and poor effort on the Flat when last seen 6 months ago.

Form: 14

Cronk Y Knox³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: A M Hales| OR: 107

40/1

No impact in a bumper/first 2 starts over hurdles. Still, there were more promising signs when mid-field in a C&D novice last time and one to keep an eye on now that he goes down the handicap route.

Form: 0-908

Balkardy⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 108| BF

14/1

Encouraging third in 2m juvenile hurdle at Warwick on debut in December. Failed to build on that next time, but mark for this handicap bow looks fair and he's certainly not one to write off just yet.

Form: 33

Non-Runners

Sayar³⁵

Weight: 12-1| Age: 8

T: N Kent J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hydroplane (11/10), Lively Citizen (13/8), Sayar (8/1), En Meme Temps (11/1), Balkardy (14/1), Meteorite (16/1), Monarchofthegrange (20/1), Ginistrelli (33/1), Cronk Y Knox (40/1)

HYDROPLANE was behind Lively Citizen at Cheltenham in November, but he appears to have improved since and is taken to emerge on top here following an impressive display in a jumpers bumper at Lingfield recently. Lively Citizen is nevertheless feared greatly, while and Cronk Y Knox is of interest now handicapping.