13:45 Doncaster

Saturday 5 March 2022

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

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 11.96s

Byzantine Empire^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120| CD

4/1

Made an excellent start over hurdles for present yard, gaining his third win of the season over C&D in December. Creditable effort in a better race at Cheltenham last time and he's considered.

Form: 312114

Mongol Emperor^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| D

4/1

Won back-to-back handicaps over this trip last March and shaped as if needing run after 11 months off on his seasonal debut at Fontwell 26 days ago. Player if coming on from that.

Form: 68411-4

Faro⁵¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 120| D

50/1

Won twice over hurdles for Francois Nicolle, most recently at Auteuil in September 2019. Ran only once over fences early last season and is best watched back hurdling for new yard after 17 months off.

Form: 511/67-

Finisk River⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| D

10/1

Error-prone jumping means that he comes with risks, but avoided mistakes when third in a big-field Cheltenham handicap (21f) in November. Below form last time, but in with a chance if closer to best.

Form: 243538

Chanceux^h1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 115

8/1

Made a bright start over hurdles, landing novice events at Chepstow/Plumpton this season. Pulled up on handicap debut last time, though, and hood now goes on this free-going front runner.

Form: 43-211P

Maninsane³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 115| D

10/1

Market Rasen maiden winner in October and would've been placed bar falling at the last over C&D in December. Below form at Hereford last time, but earlier efforts this season give him a chance.

Form: 3F-18F6

Universal Folly⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 114| D

13/2

Belatedly opened his account over hurdles at Carlisle in October and shaped well in defeat both starts since, finishing with running left over this trip at Ayr 55 days ago. Likely to go well again.

Form: 267123

Jack's A Legend⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: A E Jones| OR: 113

7/2

Much improved from hurdling debut when 8¼ lengths third of 13 to I Am Maximus in maiden at Newbury then was out of his depth in a Cheltenham event next time. Mark looks workable on handicap debut.

Form: 400-637

Green Planet²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 103

12/1

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat but hasn't progressed from a promising hurdles debut, folding tamely when last seen at Chepstow 29 days ago. Will need to up his game to feature on handicap debut.

Form: 4-289

Non-Runners

Hurricane Ali²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: J Mackie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jack's A Legend (7/2), Mongol Emperor (4/1), Byzantine Empire (4/1), Universal Folly (13/2), Chanceux (8/1), Maninsane (10/1), Finisk River (10/1), Green Planet (12/1), Hurricane Ali (12/1), Faro (50/1)

BYZANTINE EMPIRE scored over C&D earlier this season and was far from disgraced up in grade at Cheltenham last time. He can gain a fourth win of the campaign at the chief expense of Universal Folly, who ran well dropped back to this trip at Ayr on his most recent start, whilst Mongol Emperor looked to retain all his ability at Fontwell last month and should strip fitter this time.