14:35 Doncaster

Wednesday 21 February 2024

All13:3014:0514:3515:0515:4016:1516:50

SBK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 6m 42.50s

Pounding Poet^t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 127WS

7/1

Useful handicap hurdler at best but completely out of sorts this season, including in a first-time visor and tongue strap at Wincanton 57 days ago. Has had a breathing operation since.

Form: 62-06PP

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Johnson's Blue¹⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 127| D

5/1

Progressive and likeable hurdler who recorded a seventh career victory at Haydock (24.2f) in February, kicking on straight and digging deep under pressure. Was closing when unseating rider 2 out on chasing debut at Kelso when last seen in September and has to be respected back over hurdles.

Form: 14161-U

Come On Teddy²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 126| D

10/3

Fine third in the Pertemps Final at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. Has yet to fire this season following a 20-month absence but has eased further in the weights and good-value 7-lb conditional now takes over in the saddle.

Form: 52P/686

Storm Nelson²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 125| D

40/1

Won 5 of his 8 starts during a very good spell with Sandy Thomson but has shown precious little in 3 starts for current yard.

Form: 110-P69

Moka De Vassy^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 124| D

15/2

Finally off the mark in a 4-runner handicap hurdle (13/2) at Taunton (23.9f, good to soft) in December, able to get away with a typically sloppy round of jumping in such a small field. Was found out in better company at Lingfield since, however.

Form: P-53019

Fable^p1⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122| D

12/1

Irish point/dual hurdles winner who made it third time lucky over fences at Bangor (20.3f) in February. Disappointing since however, again running no sort of race back over hurdles after 8 months off at Ascot last time. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 2P13P-P

Romeo Brown³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 121| D

10/1

Stepped up on his comeback when fifth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) 39 days ago. Back up in trip and has been given a chance by the assessor.

Form: 14RF-55

Bridge North^v1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: H D Daly| OR: 120

14/1

Made a winning start over fences in a 3-runner handicap chase at Newbury (23.4f, soft) in March, but has been disappointing since and now reverts to hurdles in first-time headgear.

Form: 1F-PP4P

Time To Tinker^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 113

9/1

Took a step back in the right direction on just second outing for current yard when fifth of 12 in a C&D handicap (good to soft, 33/1) 24 days ago. Not dismissed from his reduced mark.

Form: 4PP-4P5

Blue Ridge Hill^t1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 104

9/2

Runner-up all 3 starts in bumpers and showed something like his hurdling debut form when fifth of 12 on handicap debut at Sandown (19.8f, heavy, 40/1) 26 days ago. Up in trip and fitted with a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 223-575

Forecasts

Come On Teddy (10/3), Blue Ridge Hill (9/2), Johnson's Blue (5/1), Pounding Poet (7/1), Moka De Vassy (15/2), Time To Tinker (9/1), Romeo Brown (10/1), Fable (12/1), Bridge North (14/1), Storm Nelson (40/1)

ROMEO BROWN has slipped to a handy mark on the pick of last season's form and could the answer back up in trip. The dangers are headed by Johnson's Blue, a progressive and most genuine hurdler, and Come on Teddy, who has a handy 7-lb conditional on board for the first time.