The highlight of an excellent card at Doncaster this afternoon is the Novices' Chase over 2m which sees Josses Hill (1.00) look to go one better than on his Chase debut when he was, ultimately, well beaten by the excellent Ptit Zig at Ascot last month.
Having backed the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding for the Arkle at 12/1(now 8/1 at BetVictor) I have more than a passing interest in his performance and this will be a real test of his Festival credentials with Cheltenian and Solar Impulse in opposition. The former is lightly-raced for one of his age but won the Festival Bumper back in 2011and is fitted with a hood for the first time as he makes his first start over fences. That said Josses Hill has the scope to go to the very top over fences and is a confident selection.
Nicolas Chauvin is likely to be another Henderson-trained favourite in the next but I prefer both Glingerburn and Some Buckle (1.35) with marginal preference for the latter trained by Tom George. The selection made all at Southwell last month and is likely to make up into a top class chaser one day but can make it two out of two over timber for the yard of Tom George who remain in excellent form.
There is a new Mares' listed chase on the card and Pepite Rose (2.05) can give the weight (4lbs) to Highland Retreat in a cracking little race. The selection has not been at her best so far this season but has been highly tried of late and will appreciate today's better ground and drop in grade.
As long as the ground is good I think Accordingtojodie (2.40) must have a leading chance in the 3m Chase for Tom Symonds. The 9-y-old was all at sea on heavy ground at Bangor last time but had run well at Worcester on his penultimate start on good to soft back in June. A Bumper winner on good to firm back in his native Ireland, he is lightly-raced for one of his age and is entitled to come on for his latest effort.
Earth Amber (3.15) is extremely well handicapped on her flat form and can give Henderson a double in the Mares' Handicap Hurdle. The 6-y-old went off a well backed favourite at Cheltenham back in the autumn but today's better ground and longer trip should suit. There are any number of dangers including Balmusette and Dewala but the Henderson mare is taken to improve past her rivals and could be well ahead of the handicapper.
At Huntingdon It's a Sting has the best hurdle form in the book but Vayland (1.20) was still going well at Newbury in a better race when coming down three out on his hurdle debut and should get off the mark for David Pipe and Simon Munir whose colours are becoming more and more prominent especially in Novice Hurdles.
Killala Quay (3.05) is not obviously well treated off his current chase mark but this drop back in trip will suit and it should be remembered that he finished fourth in the Neptune beaten only 6L by Faugheen less than a year ago.
At Lingfield Sgt Reckless is a fascinating contender on the flat having won two Bumpers on polytrack including over today's surface a couple of years ago. He was last seen finishing down the field in the Xmas Hurdle and might not have the tactical sped to cope with Belrog who finished runner up over C&D when last seen back in April.
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