14:05 Doncaster

Saturday 11 December 2021

All11:5012:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 3.90s

Tommy's Oscar²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 147| D

3/1

Had a fine novice campaign, winning 4 times and signed off with a good third in Scottish Champion Hurdle in April. Resumed his improvement when scoring at Haydock 3 weeks ago so not dismissed.

Form: 613-231

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Lucky One²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

14/1

Free-going front runner who doubled his tally with a dominant display in 2m novice at Wincanton in February. Going well when fell mid-race at Aintree back in April and has since left Paul Nicholls.

Form: 21315F-

Rockadenn^t²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 137

18/1

Hurdle/chase winner in France who was better when ever when taking a Taunton handicap hurdle for Paul Nicholls in February. Has left that yard since finishing third at Warwick in May.

Form: 12/R1P-3

Takeit Easy³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 134| BF

9/2

Improved again when taking his handicap record to 4-7 with a defeat of 4 rivals over 2m at Wetherby in October. Typically gave his running when second last month so expected to feature again.

Form: 31-1212

Snookered^p⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 133| D

50/1

Useful hurdler who was mugged by his stable companion at Sedgefield in September. Never threatened on Flat later that month and likely to find a few too strong.

Form: F17-F02

Geromino^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132

15/2

Really going the right way, defying market weakness to complete the hat-trick at Huntingdon 3 weeks ago. Up 7 lb but may not have finished improving yet.

Form: 2-34111

Sonigino²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| D

5/1

Won 4-y-o events in the spring for David Cottin. Shaped encouragingly with the tongue tie off when third on reappearance/yard debut 3 weeks ago so rates a likely improver on handicap debut.

Form: 4-13

Natural History²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122| BF

9/1

Back to something like his smart Flat form when hacking up in a Plumpton handicap hurdle in March. Has proved rather disappointing since, clearly not 100% on Fontwell return last month.

Form: 22162-P

Pyramid Place¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 120| D

5/1

Hit the target 3 times in juvenile campaign. Very good second in 2m Chepstow handicap on return and creditable efforts on last 2 starts, including here a fortnight ago. More needed.

Form: 168-274

Forecasts

Tommy's Oscar (3/1), Takeit Easy (9/2), Pyramid Place (5/1), Sonigino (5/1), Geromino (15/2), Natural History (9/1), Lucky One (14/1), Rockadenn (18/1), Snookered (50/1)

Plenty in with claims but this can go the way of TAKEIT EASY, who has progressed in 2m handicaps this term and typically gave his running when second at Huntingdon last month. Both the winner and the third that day have won since, so Pam Sly's charge can get back to winning ways here. Sonigino rates a likely improver on handicap debut so he's feared most, ahead of the in-form Geromino.