12:55 Doncaster

Friday 24 January 2025

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

LiveScore Bet Best Odds Daily Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 4m 53.4s

Rich Spirit⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 117| D

5/1

Has some fairly useful winning hurdles form to his name but not at that level completed start over fences at Wetherby (15.1f) in November. However, the return to this longer trip may well help.

Form: 12FP-F4

Yealand²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116| BF| C| D

7/2

Progressive over hurdles last season, winning twice at up to 20.3f and showed benefit of his comeback run when making a winning chase debut here (20.5f) in December. Matched that form when second at Sedgefield (19.3f) 4 weeks ago and he should go well again.

Form: 513-612

Salt Rock^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 115

7/2

Cost £205,000 after winning his only point in March 2022. Displayed promise over hurdles and he justified the decision to fast-track him to this sphere when making a winning handicap chase debut at Hereford (2m) last month. Very much of interest with progress anticipated up in trip.

Form: 18/3-531

Awaythelad^b1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

12/1

Dual hurdles winner last winter and encouraging start over fences when third of 11 at Lingfield (2½m, good) in November. Has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts and connections now opt for the application of blinkers to spark a resurgence. Usual tongue tie left off.

Form: 1P7-34P

One More Stroke^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| BF| D

7/1

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts at up to 19.3f over hurdles in 2023/24 and cemented good start made in this sphere at Hexham when second of 6 in handicap chase (7/4) at Musselburgh (20.3f, good to soft) 46 days ago. Respected from same mark.

Form: 2113-32

Touchy Feely²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 109| CD

25/1

Fair hurdles winner (at up to 21f) who failed to complete all 3 starts over fences last season, albeit looking booked for a placed finish when falling on second occasion in March. Unconvincing in 4 hurdle runs since, so a return to this discipline needs to have a positive effect now.

Form: FP-4P5P

Militaire³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: W Greatrex| OR: 105

12/1

Fair maiden hurdler who was prominent in the betting after almost 2 years off (also had wind surgery) but ultimately offered little when pulled up over hurdles at Lingfield (19.5f) in December. Clearly needs to have come on plenty for that now attentions switch to chasing.

Form: 42334/P

Kuzco^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102

7/2

Showed ability without troubling the judge over hurdles and matched form in that sphere when second of 4 on handicap chase debut at Market Rasen (17.2f) 4 weeks ago. The way he shaped then suggests this longer trip is worth exploring and he's in good hands.

Form: 246-542

Non-Runners

Ostend³⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Salt Rock (7/2), Yealand (7/2), Kuzco (7/2), Rich Spirit (5/1), One More Stroke (7/1), Awaythelad (12/1), Militaire (12/1), Ostend (14/1), Touchy Feely (25/1)

SALT ROCK justified the decision to fast-track him to chasing when making a winning handicap debut in a solid race of its type at Hereford (2m) 5 weeks ago and, appealing as the type to go on improving now his stamina is tested further, he makes obvious appeal again. Yealand, Kuzco in receipt of plenty of weight and One More Stroke head up the dangers, in that order.