15:15 Doncaster

Saturday 25 January 2025

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 55.40s

Raffle Ticket⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 143| C

25/1

Low mileage 11-y-o who looked better than ever when landing a Aintree handicap in May. Never involved at Cheltenham since, however, and opposable off top weight.

Form: 621P-1P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Tightenourbelts³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140| D

10/1

Failed to kick on over fences last season but seems to have got his act together now, impressing with his jumping when winning at Exeter and Ludlow last 2 starts. Worth a shot in a valuable event like this.

Form: 46-3611

Sure Touch⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 139

22/1

Had a productive 2022 over hurdles, winning 4 times, and further progress over fences last season, completing 4-timer in Summer Plate at Market Rasen. Winning run came to an end in Grand Sefton at Aintree, however, and struggled at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 111-158

Forward Plan^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Chad Bament⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 138| CD

9/2

Likeable chaser who only just failed in this last season. Follows the exact same route this time around (much better for return when good third over C&D 6 weeks ago) and another very bold show could be on the way.

Form: 1213-43

The Changing Man^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 137

7/2

Progressive over hurdles but mixed record over fences last season. However, back to best when runner-up in Rehearsal Chase (behind Frero Banbou) at Newcastle and Silver Cup at Ascot last 2 starts and should go well again.

Form: 442-F22

Frero Banbou²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| BF

16/1

Took advantage of reduced mark in Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle (by 1¼ lengths from The Changing Man), jumping well over the longest trip he's faced. Beaten only by an unexposed one at Kempton since and remains unexposed at this distance. Player.

Form: 66P-612

Young Buster^p,t⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| BF| D

22/1

Much improved sent chasing last term, completing hat-trick in a handicap at Kelso (22.3f) over a year ago. Just respectable efforts both starts this term 5 months apart but has been eased 1 lb. Not taken lightly.

Form: 113P-25

Bowtogreatness^p1²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 131

14/1

Took advantage of career-low mark when finally off the mark over fences at Newbury, jumping boldly at the head of affairs. Added to patchy record when running poorly at Newcastle 3 weeks later but didn't run too badly at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Headgear now applied.

Form: 06-51P3

Erne River^b²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 131| CD

12/1

Responded well to first-time headgear when scoring over C&D 13 months ago before good fifth in this off 6 lb higher following month. Struggled over fences since but did at least show he retains ability back hurdling here last month. On a workable mark if building on that.

Form: 5P-PPU4

Docpickedme^p,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 129| CD

9/1

Not the most consistent but ran best race for a while when close second of 14 to Charlie Uberalles over C&D 6 weeks ago and another good-value claimer takes over.

Form: PP-6632

Idalko Bihoue²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

9/1

Lightly raced since opening account over fences at Cheltenham and hindered by jumping errors when well-held in Grand Sefton at Aintree on return. However, ran better at Haydock since and return to further could suit. Yard has good record in this (3 wins, notably Young Hustler and Beau).

Form: F165-85

Snipe⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| BF| D

13/2

Took well to fences last term, winning handicaps around 3m at Southwell and Aintree. Solid runner-up efforts both starts this season, beaten only by a subsequent winner at Carlisle last time, so warrants respect.

Form: 2127-22

Walking On Air^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: G Brown| OR: 125

16/1

Dual-winning hurdler for Nicky Henderson and posted a career best when runner-up on chase debut at Newbury last December off much higher mark. Disappointing since, though, offering little in 3 starts for present connections.

Form: 9/2P-P63

Non-Runners

Arizona Cardinal⁴³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: S Edmunds J: C Gethings

Famous Bridge³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: N G Richards J: Sean Quinlan

Sine Nomine³⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: Fiona Needham J: B S Hughes

Charlie Uberalles⁴²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

The Changing Man (7/2), Forward Plan (9/2), Snipe (13/2), Docpickedme (9/1), Idalko Bihoue (9/1), Tightenourbelts (10/1), Erne River (12/1), Sine Nomine (12/1), Bowtogreatness (14/1), Charlie Uberalles (14/1), Frero Banbou (16/1), Famous Bridge (16/1), Arizona Cardinal (16/1), Walking On Air (16/1), Young Buster (22/1), Sure Touch (22/1), Raffle Ticket (25/1)

It's surely just a matter of time before THE CHANGING MAN opens his account over fences and this could be it after excellent runner-up efforts in similar events at Newcastle and Ascot. This is typically competitive, though, with hat-trick seeking Tightenourbelts and last year's runner-up Forward Plan heading the dangers.