Thursday 5th February 2026
It’s over to Doncaster for the first of our four selections on Thursday, the 1.50, a Class 4 maiden contested over two miles and half a furlong. Donald McCain’s COUNT OF VENDOME holds very solid claims here under the former champion jockey Brian Hughes. He was a smart bumper horse, and went extremely close to opening his account over hurdles at the first time of asking at Bangor in November, finishing just a neck second of nine. There should be a lot more to come from him, and if he shows natural progression here, he’ll be bang on the promises. His main danger looks to come in the form of Stanners Glen for Harry Fry and Bryan Carver, who’s a point-and-bumper winner and should progress following a third-placed effort on hurdles debut.
Our second selection of the afternoon comes from Thurles and the 2.17, which is a maiden hurdle over two miles. Willie Mullins could have the answer here with LAURETS D’ESTRUVAL, who’s the mount of Paul Townend. He was second in his sole start when trained in France, and filled that same position on stable debut at Limerick on Boxing Day, finishing behind the useful Starting Fifteen. He should almost certainly come on for what was a very encouraging debut run on that occasion, and that makes him a very live player here. Joseph O’Brien’s Le Labo is a big threat; he looked to have the beating of Kazansky last time out before falling, and that rival has since finished second in a Grade 1.
Next up, it’s the 3.10 from Huntingdon, which is the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and three and a half furlongs. The Dan Skelton-trained SINNATRA has looked to have significant potential in his short career to date. He won by a very wide margin on his latest start when a short price at Sandown, and before that, finishing second to the reopposing Act Of Innocence at Newbury. He’ll need to turn that form around here; however, he could well have made rapid progress since November, and there’s every chance he could be one for the top level. Harry Skelton takes the ride, and he should be bang there at the business end of things. His old rival Act Of Innocence looks smart for Nicky Henderson and should prove a tough nut to crack once again, making him the main danger.
Our fourth and final selection of the day on Thursday comes from Southwell, and within the 6.00, which is a Class 6 handicap that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. NIGHT BEAR could have a big say here for the team of Tony Carroll and William Carson. He posted his best effort for a while last time out at this track over eleven furlongs, finishing a head second of twelve. His sole all-weather victory came over course and distance off a considerably higher mark, albeit a long time ago; however, he’s still well-handicapped and can go well again off this mark. Havachoc won by six lengths last time out at Wolverhampton, and is a big danger if he’s in the same form. A mention can also go to Haliphon, who’s on a tumbling mark, and ran well here last time out.
1.50 – Count Of Vendome – 7/4 – (Win) (NB)
2.17 – Lauret’s D’Estruval – 15/8 – (Win) (NAP)
3.10 – Sinnatra – 15/8 – (Win)
6.00 – Night Bear – 4/1 – (Win)
