14:40 Doncaster

Saturday 16 December 2023

All11:4012:1512:5013:2514:0514:4015:15

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 4m 1.50s

Tommy's Oscar⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 152| CD

6/1

Smart hurdler and even better over fences, winning Grade 2 here in January. Better than ever when making a winning return at Kelso in good style before shaping as if still in good form in a muddling Old Roan. 5 lb lower now back over hurdles and has to enter calculations. Won this race in 2021.

Form: 5212-14

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Langer Dan⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 145

40/1

Landed the third big handicap win of his career when seeing off 25 rivals in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March. Little impact both starts back this season though, and has tended to save his best for the big Spring Festivals.

Form: 3781-6P

Too Friendly²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 138| C| D

10/1

On the up for current yard during the summer, winning three 2m handicap hurdles but pulled up in Greatwood at Cheltenham last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: V2112P

Gin Coco^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

4/1

Lightly-raced 7-y-o who was an excellent second in the Greatwood at Cheltenham a year ago. Showed the benefit of his reappearance run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle when resuming winning ways (tongue tied) in a less competitive event at Ascot (15.7f) 22 days ago. Much respected up 4 lb.

Form: 2/120-51

Rare Edition²⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B Roberts⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 136| CD

9/4

Successful in his only bumper and again looked a good prospect in winning his first 3 starts over hurdles, particularly when seeing off subsequent Grade 2 winner Rubaud at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day. Disappointed in better company but could well bounce back returning fresh again.

Form: 1112P0-

Soaring Glory^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

12/1

Smart hurdler at his best who won the Betfair Hurdle in 2021. Below par last season but has fallen in the weights and returned to form back in headgear when second of 7 to Clear White Light in C&D handicap 2 weeks ago.

Form: P57-352

Nayati³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130| D

14/1

Did well back from an extended layoff last term, winning 3 times (latest off 2 lb higher at Musselburgh on New Year's Day). Given a considerate reappearance at Huntingdon (lost a shoe) last month and much better expected now.

Form: 61586-5

Clear White Light¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 128| CD

13/2

Went the right way in handicaps for current yard last term, winning twice at around 2½m. Ridden too aggressively in Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap) at Kelso and proved better than ever when landing C&D handicap on return 2 weeks ago. 7 lb claimer now takes over and further improvement possible.

Form: 51319-1

First Impression⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 127

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who resumed winning ways on the Flat at Chester in August. Below par at Pontefract on final outing and others perhaps a bit better treated on this return to hurdling.

Form: 3/42916-

Geromino^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| BF

14/1

Useful handicap chaser who has finished runner-up on his last 3 completed outings. Is lower in the weights in this sphere and needs a close look, especially with Charlie Maggs' big claim.

Form: 5P222U

Glorious Zoff^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

16/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler who faced a stiff task when 9 lengths third of 4 to Rubaud in Elite Hurdle (28/1) at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 35 days ago. Likely to make more of an impact now returned to a realistic level.

Form: 3645U3

Non-Runners

Matchless¹⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Rare Edition (9/4), Gin Coco (4/1), Tommy's Oscar (6/1), Clear White Light (13/2), Matchless (7/1), Too Friendly (10/1), Soaring Glory (12/1), Geromino (14/1), Nayati (14/1), Glorious Zoff (16/1), First Impression (33/1), Langer Dan (40/1)

A good-quality handicap and cases can be made for many. NAYATI has dropped below his last successful mark and could show the benefit of a considerate reppearance at Huntingdon now that his yard is going a bit better. Rare Edition disappointed in Grade 1 company at the big Spring Festivals, but could well bounce back returning fresh again (unbeaten first time out in short career), while Clear White Light and Tommy's Oscar are others to note.