13:43 Doncaster

Saturday 27 November 2021

All12:0512:3513:0813:4314:1814:5315:28

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:43 | Winning time: 4m 13.7s

Sofia's Rock^h,t²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 131

16/1

Useful on Flat and similar standard over hurdles, winning twice. Pulled too hard on return in March but was running well in second before falling at last at Huntingdon 17 days later. Shortlisted.

Form: 5320/8F-

Caius Marcius^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 127| D

12/1

Capitalised on a falling mark under a good front-running ride in 5-runner event at Market Rasen in July. Similar form when runner-up under this rider at Wetherby a fortnight ago so could feature.

Form: 516542

Gordon's Jet⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 124| D

7/2

Made a successful debut over hurdles for new yard in 2m maiden at Chepstow in April and having been well backed, duly got off the mark for the season at Sedgefield 6 weeks ago. More needed up 9 lb.

Form: 222P31

Ingleby Hollow^p,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 123| C| D

17/2

Successful twice on the Flat this summer for David O'Meara. Has performed with credit over hurdles since joining Rebecca Menzies and should be competitive again.

Form: F-52263

Hydroplane²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

8/1

Progressive over timber last season, notching 4 victories (latest at Worcester in April). Good third in Chester Plate back on the Flat a few weeks later and one to note on return from 6 months off.

Form: 315211-

Rattle Owl²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 122| BF

7/4

Made it 2-3 in novice hurdles when seeing off 8 rivals at Sedgefield in September and was shaping well when his race came to an unfortunate end on handicap debut at Wetherby 4 weeks ago. Interesting.

Form: 661-31F

Will Sting²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 120

4/1

Much improved since sent handicapping, scoring at Warwick and good fifth at Statford in March. Satisfactory return when runner-up at Sandown 20 days ago and every chance if building on that effort.

Form: 75125-2

Non-Runners

Constancio²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: D McCain Jnr J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Rattle Owl (7/4), Gordon's Jet (7/2), Will Sting (4/1), Constancio (6/1), Hydroplane (8/1), Ingleby Hollow (17/2), Caius Marcius (12/1), Sofia's Rock (16/1)

Cases can be made for most but the vote goes to RATTLE OWL. Jedd O'Keeffe's charge was well supported and shaped well before his race came to an unfortunate end on handicap debut at Wetherby 4 weeks ago. Provided he's none the worse, he can make amends. Hydroplane made plenty of progress in this sphere last season so he's feared most on reappearance, ahead of Dan Skelton's Sofia's Rock.