15:50 Doncaster

Saturday 4 March 2023

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 5m 56.78s

Hunters Call²³

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 134

12/1

Ready winner of a Bangor handicap on return last season and performed with credit when third in the same race on his reappearance this time round. However, safely held back from a break at Huntingdon and while being eased 4 lb will help, he looks vulnerable.

Form: 353-235

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Sweet Will²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C P McNamara| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126| BF

10/3

Improved when landing big-field handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse and Cheltenham in November prior to going close over fences at the former course in January. Going well when unseating 3 out at Navan last time and this Irish raider is of strong interest back in this sphere.

Form: 02112U

Sirobbie^b1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 119

15/2

Fairly useful for David Bridgwater and returned to form for new yard when runner-up at Ludlow (23.8f) in January. Not in the same form on his next 2 starts, though, and hopes now pinned on the addition of blinkers sweetening him up.

Form: 57F2P6

The Newest One²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117| CD

3/1

Successful over fences here last term and, having performed poorly at Exeter on second start of this season, he put in a good shift back hurdling when a close/clear second in a 23.6f Chepstow novice. On a potentially handy mark returned to handicap company and he needs considering.

Form: 144-5P2

Bumpy Johnson^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

7/2

Fontwell bumper winner who opened his hurdles account following a second wind op at Ffos Las (2½m) last month. This is a tougher assignment but 4 lb rise tolerable and shapes as though worth another crack at this trip, so there is certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 3/24-441

Snipe²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 114

11/2

Was going as well as anything when falling 3 out on handicap debut upped to this trip at Southwell in November. Duly landed the odds in a Ffos Las maiden back from a break last month and it's entirely possible that he has more to offer.

Form: 3-23F1

Hasty Parisian^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 109

10/1

Did well as a juvenile last season, winning at Sandown and made the frame on several occasions, too. Performed with credit when fourth of 9 back at Sandown in November but subsequent efforts have not been so good.

Form: 24-5463

Non-Runners

Theme Tune⁵⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: N W Alexander J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Newest One (3/1), Sweet Will (10/3), Bumpy Johnson (7/2), Theme Tune (9/2), Snipe (11/2), Sirobbie (15/2), Hasty Parisian (10/1), Hunters Call (12/1)

SWEET WILL is 12 lb higher than for his Cheltenham success in November but he did the job well that day and his subsequent efforts over fences do little to dispel the notion that he is still improving. The 6-y-o is taken to add to his tally, perhaps at the chief expense of The Newest One, who is 0-7 in this sphere but acquitted himself very well in a Chepstow novice last time and scored over fences off 5 lb higher here last season. Bumpy Johnson and Snipe are others to consider.