15:10 Doncaster

Friday 3 March 2023

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 6m 1.3s

Potters Legend²⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 124| D

13/2

Not the force of old and while he put in a good shift when runner-up at Catterick in November, he subsequently failed to make much of an impact at Wincanton. Others make more appeal.

Form: 22-5427

Up Helly Aa King^t⁵⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123| CD

7/2

C&D winner on sole previous visit to Town Moor last February and has acquitted himself well all 4 starts this season, most recently finishing fourth in an 18-runner veterans' contest at Sandown. Big player on the proviso that he handles conditions (done all his racing on good to soft or slower).

Form: 4P1-424

Mr Muldoon^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Luke Scott⁽⁶⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 123| D

9/2

Returned to form from out of the blue when landing a 19.5f handicap hurdle at Chepstow in January. Early blunder didn't help when runner-up back in this sphere at Musselburgh (23.8f) since and should go well off the same mark here granted a clean round of jumping.

Form: 7P6-P12

Domaine De L'Isle^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: S Curran| OR: 122

7/1

Would be thrown in off this mark if able to recapture his form from a couple of seasons back. However, he's been out of sorts for a while and prospects here largely rest on whether the addition of cheekpieces can help spark a revival.

Form: UP-6906

Brianstorm³¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Quinlan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117| DWS

12/1

Good second off this mark at Market Rasen last February but jumping went to pot when eventually pulled up at Fakenham 2 months later, taking chase record to 0-9. Has undergone another wind op ahead of this belated reappearance and now finds himself with a bit to prove.

Form: 7P2/P2P-

Stylish Moment^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: P W Wadge⁽⁶⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at best for Eoin Doyle. Positive start to this season when a close third at Carlisle (24.5f) in October but has failed to match that level of form in 3 subsequent starts, finishing 8½ lengths adrift of Mr Muldoon at Musselburgh last time.

Form: 2F-34P3

Molineaux^t³³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 117| D

15/2

Below par on latest start under Rules in March 2021 but enjoyed a good time of it between the flags early last year, winning 5 times from 8 starts in that sphere. Resumes on a potentially handy mark and it will be interesting to see what the market has to say.

Form: 121211-

Scheu Time¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 117

25/1

It's been a while since he last got his head in front and the addition of blinkers (discarded here) failed to spark a return to form when last seen in a claming hurdle at Clonmel in September. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 6-F06U9

Hitman Fred^v³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁸⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 111| D

15/2

Likeable type who scored 4 times in 2021 and added to his tally on second start back from a break at Ayr in December. Ran no sort of a race at Catterick (25.2f) next time but drying ground here in his favour and solid each-way chance if able to bounce back.

Form: 711-31P

Flying Verse^b,t¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 105| D

11/1

Had a good spell over fences after wind surgery in the summer, recording back-to-back wins at Stratford (22.6f) and Musselburgh (31.5f) in October/November. Not at his best at Newcastle recently but could be a factor here if on-song.

Form: 115P33

Forecasts

Up Helly Aa King (7/2), Mr Muldoon (9/2), Potters Legend (13/2), Domaine De L'Isle (7/1), Hitman Fred (15/2), Molineaux (15/2), Flying Verse (11/1), Brianstorm (12/1), Stylish Moment (14/1), Scheu Time (25/1)

This looks pretty open and it could be worth chancing MOLINEAUX, who enjoyed a winning spree on the point-to-point scene last year and may be able to exploit a good mark back in this sphere, provided he's fully tuned up following a 10-month absence. The ground here is likely to be faster than anything Up Helly Aa King has previously encountered but he will be a big threat if handling conditions. Mr Muldoon is third choice ahead of Flying Verse and Hitman Fred.