15:55 Doncaster

Thursday 18 March 2021

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

MansionBet Cheltmas Tree Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 5m 4.41s

Red Nika¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 121| BF

9/2

Point winner who has been placed on 6 of his 7 outings over hurdles. Might benefit from a switch to the larger obstacles, so not dismissed from a fair mark.

Form: 252-232

Slanelough^h¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 120| BF| C

9/2

Dual hurdle winner. Still without a win over fences but has hit frame on last 4 completed starts (fell last time), second at this track in January. Usually good jumper, so he's an obvious player.

Form: 84232F

Bootlegger^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 120| C

2/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who, having left Neil Mulholland, shaped well when a staying-on second at this course 13 days ago. On an appealing mark and drop in trip shouldn't pose a problem.

Form: 946332

Smith's Bay^h¹²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 120

12/1

Bumper/novice hurdle winner who was shaping well prior to falling 2 out in a handicap at Plumpton on chasing debut 122 days ago. More to come with hood refitted, so warrants consideration.

Form: 5/1227-F

Cilaos Glace⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 118

16/1

Won twice over hurdles in spring 2019 but has just one solid effort (second at Wetherby on return) to his name over fences. A break might have freshened him up.

Form: 1/8UP-27

On A Promise³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 118| D

22/1

Progressive staying hurdler in 2017/18. Made a successful stable debut over fences at Musselburgh in December and, while not in the same form next time, it's too soon to write him off as a chaser.

Form: 121/4-1P

Champagne Noir^p⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 114| BF

10/1

Improved to make a winning start over fences at Huntingdon (19.8f) in October. Yet to build on tat but given a chance by the handicapper since a sub-par showing at Musselburgh 87 days ago.

Form: 46-1234

Rob The Getaway²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 113| BF

9/2

Point/Aintree bumper winner who has gradually got his act together over fences, runner-up the last twice. Still relatively unexposed, so a bigger effort isn't out of the question.

Form: 5-F3422

Non-Runners

Meteorite¹²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Bootlegger (2/1), Rob The Getaway (9/2), Red Nika (9/2), Slanelough (9/2), Champagne Noir (10/1), Smith's Bay (12/1), Cilaos Glace (16/1), Meteorite (16/1), On A Promise (22/1)

BOOTLEGGER shaped well having conceded first run when second starting out for a new yard at Musselburgh recently and is fancied to go one better from a lenient mark. The in-form Rob The Getaway also warrants consideration, while Smith's Bay is likely to step forward on just his second chase outing.