Saturday 29th February 2020
Author: Jordan Yates
GEORDIE B @ 4/1 – 1.50 Doncaster (888Sport Handicap Hurdle)
Venetia Williams’ horses come into their own in these conditions and Geordie B made a pleasing return on reappearance when fourth the last day in a decent handicap at Newbury. Blackjack Kentucky will be a warm order here for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden but if coming on from the first of the run of the season, which is likely, Geordie B could well prove up to the task.
JERRYSBACK @ 4/1 – 2:25 Doncaster (888Sport Handicap Chase)
There’s question marks hanging over pretty much of all of the field here, with a lot of them sitting on career high marks and being at what is possibly the peak of their respective abilities. I’ve taken a chance on Jerrysback for Phillip Hobbs and Tom O’Brien who’s come in for a bit of market support, he’s got the best form on offer having placed in a couple of Grade 2 Novice Chases last term and bounced back to form with a third placed effort in a Listed Handicap at Ascot in December. If coping with this drop down in trip he’s every chance of playing a big part here.
CALVA D’AUGE @ 5/2 – 2:45 Kelso (Premier Novices’ Hurdle)
Paul Nicholls won this race back in 2016 with Le Prezien and with Calva D’Auge he’s got a serious chance of getting another win in the bag in the Kelso feature. The ex French trained five-year-old is three from five since coming to Britain and was far from disgraced when finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown behind Fiddleronthroof. That’s the strongest form on offer here, and if going off ratings he should be bang there at the business end of things.
CILL ANNA @ 4/6 – 3:00 Doncaster (888Sport Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle)
An intriguing Mares’ Novices’ race is this and one that I think can go once again to Team Ditcheat with Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old that is Cill Anna who’s to be ridden by Harry Cobden. She arrives here on the back of two wins in novice company having won at both at Warwick and Wincanton, she’s also two from two in the tongue tie and this three mile point winner will take all the beating if arriving here in the form we’ve seen her in as of late.
YALLTARI @ 4/1 – 3:35 Doncaster (Grimthorpe Handicap Chase)
This year’s renewal of the Grimthorpe has fallen apart quite dramatically with a considerable amount of non runners resulting in a seven runnner field. It might be
worth giving Venetia Williams’ Yalltari another go following a disappointing effort when last seen at Ascot. He was well fancied that day and is well regarded by connections, this looks a slightly easier task than the Ascot and if returning to form he’d have every chance of playing a big role off what is still an attractive looking mark.
Everything Racing 