16:40 Doncaster

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:2014:0014:4015:1516:0016:4017:15

Doncaster Groundworks Reinforcements Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 4m 38.69s

Dr Sanderson⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 114| CD

7/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser scored twice over fences at Cartmel in the summer but has ran poorly on his last 4 outings since being switched back to hurdling. Can't be fancied on recent showings.

Form: 1U5786

Fingal's Hill²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P Atkinson| OR: 111

15/2

Fair bumper winner and gradually went right way in maiden/novice hurdles, ending last term with success in a Newcastle novice. Easy to back, shaped as if needing run on return/handicap debut at Carlisle in February and better showing anticipated.

Form: 09721-8

Couldbeaweapon^p1⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 110| BF

10/3

Produced a career best when winning at Worcester in October and just as good when placed three times since. Should make an impact in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 621322

Great Ocean^p1,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 108| BF

11/1

Winning Irish pointer who also scored over hurdles last term for Philip Hobbs. Shaped well on yard/chase debut when fourth in handicap at Worcester (2m4f) in October but has gone backwards from that and now returns to smaller obstacles.

Form: 146-44U

Perryville²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 107

25/1

6-y-o who showed fair form at best in handful of maiden/novice hurdles to date. Absent since turning in a lesser effort at Market Rasen (23f) last June so the betting may prove a useful guide now handicapping on return from 9 months off.

Form: 8235-44

Supreme Yeats^t,v1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 106

17/2

Cosy winner at Southwell in November but hasn't fired on either subsequent outing. Tried in a visor now and worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 3P-2158

Heros²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 106

7/1

Bumper/hurdles winner in France in 2021. Low-key start for current yard but more competitive the last twice and can't be ruled out.

Form: 78-P752

Saturday Song⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 105

3/1

Placed on the first of his 2 starts in bumpers for Gary Brown and has shaped with encouragement on both hurdling outings for this yard. Return to this trip should bring improvement, so he's worth chancing on handicap debut.

Form: 38/3-2

Royle Steel³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 104

11/1

Sedgefield maiden hurdle winner last winter. Back on track when third at Catterick last time but needs more from this mark.

Form: 5125-53

Non-Runners

Hasty Brook⁶²

Weight: 12-1| Age: 6

T: R Menzies J: Nathan Moscrop

No Tackle⁵³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: S Drinkwater J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Saturday Song (3/1), Couldbeaweapon (10/3), Heros (7/1), Dr Sanderson (7/1), Fingal's Hill (15/2), Supreme Yeats (17/2), Hasty Brook (10/1), Royle Steel (11/1), Great Ocean (11/1), No Tackle (12/1), Perryville (25/1)

SATURDAY SONG shaped well when second in a novice at Uttoxeter last time and the step back up in trip is in his favour, so he's worth a chance to make a successful start in handicaps. Couldbeaweapon looks the main threat and Heros has shown more positive signs the last twice.