14:03 Doncaster

Friday 24 January 2025

All12:2512:5513:2814:0314:3815:1315:48

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 4m 21.2s

Meetmebythesea³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 126

1/2

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and built on hurdles debut success in a 15.8f Ludlow maiden when getting the better of another promising type in a novice over the same C&D last month. Obvious claims here with further progress likely.

Form: 2-11

Mythical Moon⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 123

9/4

Fair form when runner-up on second of 2 starts in bumpers and took to this discipline well after 6 months off when bagging 14-runner novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) in October. Didn't do much wrong when third at Exeter next time and he remains with potential.

Form: 72-13

Arkendale⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: S-J DaviesWS

250/1

Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat (stays 10.5f) but didn't show much switched to hurdles for new yard at Ludlow in November. Has subsequently undergone a wind op.

Form: 7

Boston Boy⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

9/1

Unreliable sort who ran out for the second start in a row in novice hurdle at Windsor last month. Hard to warm to.

Form: 2/55-4RR

I Ain't Your Mate¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

125/1

Brother to bumper winner Sea God and half-brother to bumper/fairly useful 2½m hurdle winner Turn Turk. Placed both starts in Irish points in spring 2024, but well held starting out over hurdles at Taunton recently.

Form: 32-9

River Rider^h1⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood

200/1

Produced a more encouraging first effort than might have been anticipated when second in a Warwick bumper last spring. However, it's very hard to draw any positives from his Uttoxeter reappearance spin on debut for this yard in November. Readily passed over now switched to hurdles.

Form: 2-9

Sleeping Late

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly

50/1

Half-brother to dual bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Rainyday Woman and fairly useful chaser William Cody. By no means devoid of appeal on paper but will probably come on for the run.

Form:

Top Guy⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/1

Half-brother to 2 point winners, while dam was a 2m hurdles/chase winner. Successful himself on his latest start between the flags last month and, having joined a top yard ahead of this Rules debut, he needs close attention in the betting.

Form: 72F1

Forecasts

Meetmebythesea (1/2), Mythical Moon (9/4), Boston Boy (9/1), Top Guy (11/1), Sleeping Late (50/1), I Ain't Your Mate (125/1), River Rider (200/1), Arkendale (250/1)

The form of the Stratford novice in which MYTHICAL MOON made a winning start over hurdles is working out well and he did his reputation no harm at all when third in what looked a pretty good contest at Exeter next time. He shades preference ahead of Meetmebythesea, who made it 2-2 in this sphere when downing the long odds-on The Kemble Brewery at Ludlow and he should have more to offer. Point-winner Top Guy is also entitled to respect.