17:15 Doncaster

Saturday 5 March 2022

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

Virgin Bet Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 4m 7.07s

Army's Dream

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas

12/1

£15,000 3-y-o, Dylan Thomas gelding. Closely related to a point winner. Dam unraced half-sister to Grand National runner-up Cappa Bleu. Bred to need more time and distance.

Form:

Grand Mario⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Callum Bewley| T: P D Niven

28/1

Didn't offer much at Wetherby on debut a couple of months ago, so set for another struggle.

Form: 9

Kentanddover

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: J & A O'Neill

11/2

Sir Percy gelding. Half-brother to 1m-1¼m winner Blistering Bob. Should have the requisite speed for this sort of test, so he's worthy of respect if the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Magic Wave

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

10/1

Gentlewave gelding. Half-brother to 2 winners, including bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Black Ivory. Makes some appeal on paper, so worth monitoring in the betting.

Form:

Spring Meadow³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

15/8

Fame And Glory gelding who showed something to work on when fourth at Ffos Las on debut. Should improve from that, so bold showing seems likely under another positive ride.

Form: 4

Theatre Man⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey

16/5

Ocovango gelding. Dam (c104/h130) 2½m hurdle winner. Runner-up sole start in Irish points (Dec 30). Noteworthy Rules newcomer.

Form: 2

Bellica

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly

9/2

War Command mare. Dam 1½m winner, out of 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa. From a family that the stable knows well, and likely to know her job on debut, so warrants respect.

Form:

Non-Runners

Carlo Du Berlais⁴⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Pembroke⁹⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Spring Meadow (15/8), Carlo Du Berlais (9/4), Theatre Man (16/5), Pembroke (4/1), Bellica (9/2), Kentanddover (11/2), Magic Wave (10/1), Army's Dream (12/1), Grand Mario (28/1)

PEMBROKE is related to 5 winners and represents a top stable so, although he's likely to peak over jumps/longer trips, he may well have enough ability to make a successful start in an interesting bumper. Bellica also makes plenty of appeal on paper, while Spring Meadow is the clear pick of those with Rules experience.