I'm going to give Oliver Greenall's ZALVADOS the benefit of the doubt after his below par run last time out and hope he can find the form which saw him put in an encouraging display at Newcastle. That run was his first off a long absence and there is every chance he ‘bounced' next time out at Wincanton when he was beaten out of sight.
His hurdles form from two years ago gives him every chance in this race as he has dropped to a mark of 118, 11lb below his highest mark. The step up in trip won't do him any harm and Paddy Brennan is an interesting jockey booking so at 14/1 I think he is definitely worth a punt each way.
Doncaster 1.00 – Zalvados
Saturday
Hopefully the weather forecasters are wrong about the amount of snow that is due to fall and we can at least get one meeting on this Saturday.
You often need an experienced type to win the River Don at Doncaster but there aren't many with too much experience at all in this line up. I'd certainly be looking at the dour stayers in the line up and BOBHOPEORNOHOPE looks just that. Kim Bailey's horse recorded a course win last time out despite idling late on and held off some late challengers. David Bass always looked in control which suggested the horse had plenty left if needed and his first run at Exeter also suggested just that.
He will need to be better today up against some classier rivals but if this race pans out like it normally does then I want him on my side.
AGAMEMMON can count himself unlucky last time out at Market Rasen as it looked as if he would play a part in the finish before a terrible mistake 2 from home. Henry Oliver's charge shows a preference for soft ground and finished third in this race last year off a higher mark. His current mark looks workable and if he can put in a better round of jumping I expect him to be in the shake up here at least.
Doncaster 2.40 – Bobhopeornohope
Doncaster 3.50 – Agamemmon
