Friday 24th January

Doncaster 2.38 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 18 run - Good to Soft

 

You could make cases for around 9 of these and Jack Sprat; Fierce Warrior and Blue Hop at the top end of the mark look real dangers. I'm not sure why Rialanna is the price it is when a stablemate at much bigger Odds looks more interesting. Best Life and One Eye On Vegas are in the Tracker and were considered but I kept coming back to a short list of 4 horses and with 18 runners and enhanced Odds we'll focus on those in preference order, for you to go as deep down the list as you wish.

 

SPITALFIELD is a Jon Jo runner who won well at FFos Llas last season so I've no doubt this Course will suit him, that was off a mark of 102 and this 7 year old who should be coming to peak now looks well worth a sporting each way investment off a mark of 104. BURROWS HALL is the sue Smith second string i referred to, Nick Schofield gets a leg up on this one and a nice win with an enterprising ride at Catterick last term suggests they might want to repeat those sort of tactics here again today. 

 

AQUILIA SKY is a Course and Distance winner over Hurdles who has been Chasing, back over Hurdles off an eye catching handicap mark after 2 warm up runs, I'll be disappointed if he's not in the first 5 home and the same applies to VELASCO a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 101, a winner since that off a mark of 111, slowly easing back down the handicap to its last winning mark and a wind operation to boost its confidence and there are worse 20/1 shots running today for sure! (North)

 

Doncaster 3.13 - Handicap Chase - Class 4 - 3 miles - 13 run - Good to Soft

 

Finn Lough will be tough to beat and a win saver at about 3/1 might be of interest to some of you. Scene One is upped in trip but like Ladronne and Kits Coty are really dangerous opponents. Okovango Delta has had a new lease of life but Musselburgh seems to be his favourite track and similarly prince Cleni looks like a Southwell expert. 

 

My top 3 rated here and I'll play the first 2 and have the 3rd as a reserve if we get a non runner are BALLYDISCO who drops back slightly in trip which should suit off a nice mark and one I can be sure will run to and through the line and EXMOOR FOREST who will surely come on for recent seasonal debut and who is a proper old fashioned Chaser who should be very well suited to this long home straight. Whosmydaddy had a good blow at Carlisle on seasonal debut, drops back in trip to a flatter track and it would be no surprise to see this one run a cracking race at nice odds to back up the chosen pair. (North)

 

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