17:15 Doncaster

Friday 17 March 2023

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

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Open Maiden NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 3m 57.53s

Destroytheevidence⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

9/1

Kayf Tara gelding who was prominent in the market but seemingly unsuited by the emphasis on speed when mid-field in bumper at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to soft) on debut 9 weeks ago. Could have more to offer with that under his belt.

Form: 5

Easter Junction⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

10/3

Encouraging third of 13 in bumper at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft, 9/2) on NH debut just over 10 weeks ago. Entitled to build on that and is one for shortlist.

Form: 2-3

It's Tuesday^t1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'BrienWS

3/1

£22,000 3-y-o, Ballingarry gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including fair 2m hurdle winner Hatos and fair hurdler Espinator. Dam, bumper winner/lightly raced over jumps in France. Tongue tied and already had a breathing operation but looks a likely sort on paper.

Form:

Johnthepostman²⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr G Barfoot-Saunt| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

300/1

Sans Frontieres gelding. Dam fair 2¼m hurdle winner. Last of 6 sole start in point bumpers (May 2022) so makes minimal appeal.

Form: 6

Luckie Seven⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards

4/1

Promising first effort amid clear signs of inexperience when runner-up over C&D (soft) in January. May well build on that effort here so one for the shortlist.

Form: 2

Not Bad Are You^t1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/1

£15,000 4-y-o, Kayf Tara gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful chaser Midnight Chill. Runner-up first start in points, last of 4 finishers next time (Jan 29). Tongue tied for this Rules debut and certainly not without hope.

Form: 24

Crystal Mer⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: P R Webber

9/2

Sea The Stars gelding who failed to meet market expectations on debut at Doncaster but much more like it when fifth in listed company at Cheltenham (14f, good to soft) on New Year's Day. Should be in the mix.

Form: 75

Whisky Wolf

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

14/1

Territories gelding. Closely related to useful 6f 2-y-o winner Elronaq and half-brother to 3 winners. Dam smart 6f winner. Worth a second look in the market on debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Zolpharine

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J P Ryan J: Jack Hogan

The Old Bull¹³²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: T R Gretton J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

It's Tuesday (3/1), Easter Junction (10/3), Luckie Seven (4/1), Crystal Mer (9/2), Destroytheevidence (9/1), Not Bad Are You (9/1), Whisky Wolf (14/1), Zolpharine (20/1), The Old Bull (66/1), Johnthepostman (300/1)

CRYSTAL MER showed why he had been well supported on debut when fifth in a listed contest at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and, now back in much calmer waters here, Paul Webber's charge is fancied to make it third time lucky. Easter Junction produced a promising first effort under Rules when third at Musselburgh earlier this year so he's put forward as the main threat, with Luckie Seven rounding off the shortlist.