14:05 Doncaster

Saturday 25 January 2025

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

Pertemps Network River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 58.90s

Western Knight⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 132

10/3

Overcame inexperience to win novice hurdles at Uttoxeter and Ascot before an excellent second of 6 in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham (3m) last month. Has more to offer and merits serious consideration.

Form: 2/7-112

Jig's Forge⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| D

4/1

Winning Irish pointer who made a successful start in this sphere in 12-runner novice at Ffos Las (20f, heavy) 66 days ago. Can build on that, especially now stepped up in trip. Considered.

Form: F31-1

Ma Shantou⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 130

5/2

Progessive sort who bids for a hat-trick after landing novice hurdles (around 2m4f) at Warwick and Windsor this winter. Open to further improvement now stepped up to 3m. In the mix.

Form: 310-211

Moon Rocket²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127| C| D

11/4

Bought for £92,000 after easily getting off the mark in Irish points and he has looked a useful prospect in bagging a maiden here in November and 3m novice at Southwell 24 days ago. Can't be discounted with more progress on the cards.

Form: 61-11

Yellow Car⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Slatter| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 126

10/1

Point winner who looked quite useful when winning 2 of his first 3 starts over hurdles at Newton Abbot and Fontwell. Posted a good third of 6 in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (3m) last time so can't be dismissed.

Form: U12153

Sunset Hill²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 115

33/1

Improving type who opened her hurdling account in 2m5f novice at Kelso in December before posting an excellent second of 7 in 2m4f Southwell handicap 24 days ago. This is tougher but she can't be ruled out on her first go over 3m.

Form: 6-65212

Non-Runners

Frisby²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: P Neville J: Non Runner

Gamesters Guy⁵⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Ma Shantou (5/2), Moon Rocket (11/4), Western Knight (10/3), Jig's Forge (4/1), Gamesters Guy (7/1), Yellow Car (10/1), Sunset Hill (33/1), Frisby (50/1)

None of these can be ruled out in a cracking River Don but the vote goes to WESTERN KNIGHT who still looked a work in progress when an excellent second in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last time out and can quickly resume winning ways here. Ma Shantou could emerge as the chief threat on his first go over 3m, although Jig's Force, Yellow Car, Moon Rocket and Gamesters Guy all need factoring in too.