Doncaster 4.15
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
NORTHERN - Doncaster 4.15 Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 3 and 1/2 furlongs - 15 run - Soft / Heavy
A fair few completely unexposed types in here upped in trip but not many with any P2P form to suggest stamina lines.
Libor Lad has form figures of 2-2-1-4- and has form at the trip and in heavy going but the mark has risen from 78 to 90 and it just looked like 90 may be a ceiling last time and of the ones at the top end of the market, he was the one i felt most comfortable to take on. Harry's Hope is one of the few with P2P form but seems best suited so far to better Going and Baghdad Central does have a win at the trip and is on a winning mark of 85 but seems a quirky fizzy type and stamina will be at a premium here. Both are obvious dangers too.
I'm most keen on USHUAIA DANCER at 11/2 the field, a best yet run last time when runner up over 2 miles and 6 furlongs and the drop back in trip on this ground should not be a negative and it has the proven stamina to use. PILGRIMS KING was 3rd at Sedgefield last time at this sort of trip and noted staying on stoutly up the hill there. A repeat of that effort would take it very close here.
Ifthere is one at big odds well worth a small poke to enhanced places I think it will be MAGNA MORALIA who has a prominent run style and could take them a long way home, it's fine in heavy ground, drops back in trip and well handicapped off 83 with a 5lbs claimer up. If he doesn't get too excited if at the front and gets the fractions right, I can see him running an enhanced place or very close to one.
Tips (1) Ushuaia Dancer / (2) Pilgrims King / (3s) Magna Moralia