14:00 Doncaster

Sunday 28 January 2024

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:3516:10

SBK 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 44.56s

Cave Bleu⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Mackie

300/1

Showed more than previously when third in small-field bumper at Market Rasen in May but down the field in a novice at this course on hurdling debut. Likely to need more time in this sphere.

Form: 40-38

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Champagne Twist²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

11/10

Picked up for £60,000 after getting off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt in April. Stepped up markedly on hurdling debut when second in a novice at Cheltenham last time and looks the one to beat.

Form: 3F1-42

Clarehill^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Olly Williams

300/1

Maiden Irish pointer who hasn't shaped with much encouragement over hurdles as yet.

Form: PP64-00

Hawkseye View²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 107

40/1

Successful sole completed start in points but only modest form to date over hurdles. Likely to do better when handicapping over further.

Form: U-1532

Jysuis¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S G West

150/1

Fair form when placed all 3 starts in bumpers in France for F. Foucher, 9 lengths third of 7 to Jenol du Quartier at Jarnac last time. Worth a market check on hurdling bow.

Form: 3

Let's Sail Away⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

5/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Brother to fair hurdler Ivetwiggedit, and half-brother to useful hurdler/chaser Twig and fairly useful hurdler Skidoosh. Won sole start in points (Dec 10). Worthy of interest for bang-in-form stable.

Form: 1

Minella Rescue⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer

11/1

Dual bumper winner who is best excused his latest effort in a listed contest at Cheltenham. Should take to hurdling, so looks a player.

Form: F3-3118

Montecam³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

5/2

Half-brother to 4 winners, notably dual Champion Chase winner Altior. Signs of ability and led for a long way when second in novice over C&D on hurdles debut. Open to improvement and should feature.

Form: 6-42

Stick With Me Sam⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: T R Gretton

150/1

Related to winners but big price and offered little in novice at Plumpton on hurdling debut.

Form: 6

Taras Halls²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 113

14/1

Bumper winner for Lucy Wadham who produced comfortably his best effort to date over hurdles when second in a novice at Newcastle last time. Needs further improvement, though.

Form: 120-F72

Youlneverwalkalone²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

12/1

Clear signs of ability in bumpers at Huntingdon and Warwick last year and some encouragement when fourth in a novice at Ludlow on hurdling debut. Should be more to come, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 844

Non-Runners

Streamsforth Lad¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: G Hanmer J: Jack Hogan

Forecasts

Champagne Twist (11/10), Montecam (5/2), Let's Sail Away (5/1), Minella Rescue (11/1), Youlneverwalkalone (12/1), Taras Halls (14/1), Hawkseye View (40/1), Streamsforth Lad (100/1), Stick With Me Sam (150/1), Jysuis (150/1), Clarehill (300/1), Cave Bleu (300/1)

The standard achieved by CHAMPAGNE TWIST when second at Cheltenham last time was good enough to win the majority of novices so, if he can repeat that, he should have the measure of Montecam, who also improved last time. Minella Rescue is an intriguing hurdling newcomer.