13:57 Doncaster

Friday 13 December 2024

All11:4012:1512:1712:5013:2513:5714:3215:07

Grace And Dotty Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 5m 8.17s

Bobhopeornohope^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: G Sheehan| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 121| CD

6/1

A three-time winner over fences who ran easily his best race for some time when fourth in 7-runner handicap chase at this course (19f) 2 weeks ago. Mark has slipped further if he can use that as a platform to build on.

Form: P/PPP-84

Sageburg County^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120| BF| D

4/1

Three-time winner over fences last season, including at Chepstow in April. Returned from a break with a good third back at that venue in October and went well for a long way when fourth at Ascot (21f) 21 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 231-534

Northern Bound^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

14/1

Winless since 2022 and his record has been patchy in recent months, going backwards from a respectable fourth at Warwick when pulled up at Ascot (23.8f) 21 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2-3044P

Pearly Island^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 113

9/2

Dual hurdles scorer who opened chase account over C&D in March. Ended last term with a good second here a month later and ran right up to best when second on return to action at Warwick (20f) 23 days ago. Respected with a repeat.

Form: 32132-2

Nickelforce¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 112| D

5/2

Consistent over hurdles and found immediate improvement sent chasing, successful at Stratford and finding another chunk of progress to follow up at Ludlow (20f) in October. Unseated before race began to develop at Leicester 12 days ago and he remains one to be interested in.

Form: 34-311U

Envious Editor²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: G Hanmer| OR: 112| D

28/1

Back to winning ways in hunter at Stratford (21f) in May and essentially acquitted himself well in defeat for Gary Hanmer since, third of 4 in veterans' handicap chase at Carlisle (20f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Each-way possibilities.

Form: 522533

Yealand¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 111

9/2

Won 2 of his 7 starts (at up to 20.3f) last season and possibly needed first run for 7 months when sixth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, heavy, 5/1) 19 days ago. That should have blown the cobwebs away now his attentions switch to larger obstacles.

Form: 12513-6

Sometimes Always²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 110| C

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who has the physique for chasing but he offered little after fully 38 months off when fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Warwick (16.2f, soft, 80/1) on debut over fences 23 days ago, pulling hard. This ought to reveal more.

Form: 11748/5

Forecasts

Nickelforce (5/2), Sageburg County (4/1), Yealand (9/2), Pearly Island (9/2), Bobhopeornohope (6/1), Northern Bound (14/1), Sometimes Always (25/1), Envious Editor (28/1)

NICKELFORCE impressed when landing each of his first 2 starts over fences and, having unseated just as the race was beginning in earnest at Leicester in his hat-trick bid 12 days ago, he remains one to be interested in given his low-mileage, progressive profile in this sphere. Sageburg County and Pearly Island may be the pair to provide chief resistance.