12:55 Doncaster

Thursday 8 February 2024

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

SBK Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

Much improved when winning a 13-runner Newbury bumper in November. Made a disappointing start to his hurdle career when pulled up at Kempton on Boxing Day but the fact he went off favourite suggests he's well regarded by his top yard. Could prove a different proposition this time.

Form: 0-1P

Ginger Jonny^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: C E Longsdon

Irish point winner but sent off at 25/1 when remote sixth of 16 on 19.5f Chepstow hurdle debut in October. Will need to leave that form well behind.

Form: 1-6

Idefix De Ciergues^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 112

Fair form over hurdles, reacting well to cheekpieces (retained) when going close in 2½m Wincanton handicap 27 days ago. Respected back in a maiden.

Form: 84-3362

Iris Des Issards³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 107

Point recruit who left the form of his hurdle debut fourth behind when 2 lengths second of 15 in 17f Exeter maiden in December. Perhaps found the run coming a bit quick on him when pulled up back there 19 days later.

Form: 363-42P

Jagwar^t⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 119| BF

Runner-up on first 2 starts (trained in France on debut), going down by only a head in 2½m Aintree novice for new connections at the end of October. Better than result when fifth of 6 on 2m Haydock handicap debut just before Christmas, closing when bad mistake last (not recover). Retains potential.

Form: 2-25

Long Draw⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy

£60,000 Irish point recruit who shaped well when third of 14 in 19f Taunton novice hurdle on debut for new connections. Sure to improve.

Form: F2-3

Mr Mahler²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

Runner-up in a point. Has hinted ability in 2 hurdles in recent months but he appeals as one more likely to flourish in handicaps further down the line.

Form: 2/666

Paris Cercy^p1,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies

Half-brother to pretty useful hurdler Parisencore but failed to win in points and sent off at 150/1 when well beaten in Kelso novice hurdle on last month's Rules debut. First-time cheekpieces need to make a big difference.

Form: 22/P5-P7

Pearl Island^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly

Shaped like a stayer when placed in 2 bumpers and similar story on both completed starts over hurdles. Unlikely to be of real interest until handicapping.

Form: 32-48U

Pic Roc²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

Placed twice in bumpers last spring. Stepped up on Newbury hurdle debut when second of 9 in 19f Catterick novice 4 weeks ago. Another who has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 532-52

The Dark Edge²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon

Looks more one for the longer term judged on his efforts in 2 bumpers/hurdles this season.

Form: 9756

Wannabe Brave^p⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J R Fanshawe| BF

Fair 2m Flat winner but recorded no more than respectable efforts on AW in the autumn. Hurdle debut.

Form:

Cotoneaster^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: Noel Williams

Modest form in 2 bumpers/hurdles. Looks more one for handicaps.

Form: 85-09

Of Course You Can²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland

Runner-up in a big-field bumper at Huntingdon last February but hasn't been able to build on that since, albeit she is entitled to come on for last month's first experience of hurdling.

Form: 26-357

Non-Runners

Clatterbridge⁶³⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Mrs Stella Barclay J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Jagwar (3/1), Pic Roc (4/1), Idefix De Ciergues (5/1), Long Draw (11/2), Gentleman's Relish (6/1), Of Course You Can (14/1), Iris Des Issards (14/1), Wannabe Brave (16/1), Ginger Jonny (20/1), Mr Mahler (25/1), Pearl Island (25/1), Clatterbridge (33/1), The Dark Edge (50/1), Cotoneaster (66/1), Paris Cercy (100/1)

JAGWAR had an excuse at Haydock last time and is given another chance. Olly Murphy's Long Draw made a promising start to his hurdle career when keeping on for third at Taunton just after Christmas and is second choice ahead of Nicky Henderson bumper winner Gentleman's Relish, who surely can't have been right when pulled up on his Kempton hurdle debut and could prove a different proposition now.