Doncaster 6/2/10

REPORT BY TONY PEACE (OFFICIAL NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT)

The last time I was here it was a lovely sunny evening and we sipped champagne on the balcony and watched the racing from far above the madding crowd!

As you may be able to tell this wasn't a jumps meeting in February but one of the summer's evening meets and a flat card. Today was very different. Dark, dank and bitterly cold with the only glimpse of sunshine coming from the big screen watching the meeting at Sandown! At least Wetherby was the same as Doncaster, that had been my other choice of venue. Typically,after waiting since Christmas to attend one of my local courses, they happened to each have a meeting on the same day, great! Anyway, moan over, on to the action.

An eight race card started with a fair Novice Hurdle.T he betting suggested there were only 6 in with a real chance and so it prevailed with victory going to the impressive David Pipe trained Dan Breen. You could have been forgiven for thinking he would need this run after his 5 month break and it being his hurdle debut but he looked eager to get back on the course in the parade ring and looks one to stay with for the foreseeable future. He quickened away on ground described as good to soft and was never in danger once he landed safely after the last. Tanto Faz chased him home for his 3rd consecutive second placed effort over timber. On first look at those figures you would assume he was probably unwilling to pass the lead horse but I think he's probably just been unlucky. Previous to this he had been beaten a total of 1 and a 1/4 lengths but he had beaten the remainder by a total of 17 lengths! Today it looks like he met a tartar in the winner but was still 3 lengths ahead of third placed Dr Livingstone, albeit in receipt of 7lbs. Surely compensation awaits somewhere down the line. The above mentioned Dr Livingstone ran well enough as one of those conceding weight all round and will no doubt win his share of races. Strategic Gale may have been closer had he not made a horlicks of 3 out. The one to take out of the race for me was 6th placed Gilbarry of Malcolm Jefferson's. Sent off 100/1 here he was settled near the back for the first half of the race and gradually worked his way through the field up to the main pack. He didn't have their finishing kick at the business end but galloped all the way to the line. His bumper win came on good ground so maybe this was a bit too soft for him. He will certainly be worth following once he's sent handicapping. Two to two and a half miles should be his best trip. He's a leggy sort who looks like he may make a nice chaser in the future.

Race two saw a pair of top Northern novice chasers take on a couple of Nicky Henderson inmates. Tazbar was a strong favourite and he didn't let his backers down. He travelled well under young James Reveley and gradually got into contention 4 out. He absolutely pinged the last and there was plenty left in the tank here but can he be a serious RSA prospect? I think the stiffer test will find him out and I wouldn't be rushing to back him. Bedlam Boy was trying to complete his hat trick here but came up against a classier opponent than in his two previous wins. He is entered for the Arkle but all his wins have been on soft/heavy so whether he would get that ground at Cheltenham remains to be seen. However, his jumping is certainly a lot better than his first tries at fencing (where he unseated twice and finished well beaten in the only chase he completed) and it is worth him taking his chance in the race. The same can be said of Daves Dream who is probably suited better by 2 miles. A couple of small errors didn't help his chances here but the jockey bookings for today suggested that they thought they were up against it with Felix de Giles taking this mount and Andrew Tinkler riding You're The Top and only McCoy, Geraghty and Fitzgerald have won on these horses. It's worth watching for one of these when one of the above mentioned gets the leg up again. The 5th placed horse Emperor Concerto ran a nice race and will be worth watching for when his sights are lowered.

Onto race three, which looked like a pinstickers race if ever I saw one! A handicap hurdle with 18 runners and a case could be made for virtually all the runners. In my previous nights notes I had noticed that the two Brians, Harding and Hughes, struggled for winners here but I liked both their mounts in this race. Furthermore, I noted that Christian Williams and Wayne Hutchinson had very good strike rates at this track but wasn't really taken by their rides, both for Alan King. They were my first quandries. Then I was interested in the Victor Dartnall runner Dastardly Dick. A long traveller but two falls in three runs didn't inspire much confidence and its usually worth avoiding horses who have fallen last time out. I negated this by telling myself that Doncaster was a fairly easy jumping track and he should get round. I dismissed most of the others for one reason or another but decided that the Nicholls horse was a worthy favourite and should be followed and a small each way on Dastardly Dick would reward me....maybe! The rest, as they say, is history. Christian Williams kept up his strike rate with a well timed run on Sir Harry Ormesher to deny the Giles Hawkins ridden Good Old Thyme. Stoop To Conquer stayed on for third place prizemoney and thus made me regret my small each way on that Dastard!! Its worth noting though that there was only about 13 lengths between the winner and 14th in this race. The main horse to take out of the race is Sir Tantallus Hawk. He looked as bright as a button in the paddock and needs better ground. He's entered at Ayr next weekend and would be of interest if the ground is in his favour. Two to two and a half on good ground are within his compass.

The Lightning Novices Chase looked a bit of a easy task for Mad Max to record his second win over fences. How wrong I was? The big horse looked in trouble turning in and so it proved with Woolcombe Folly and I'm Delilah going on to finish together on the line only to be seperated by a nose which was impossible to see on  the big screen! Another of Paul Nicholls returning from a lengthy absence to record a win. It will be worth seeing where this one goes next, The Arkle is pencilled in but you'd probably want to see another run before that on the back of this one. I'm Delilah kept her figures nice and symmetrical with 2nd, her figures from last year to date now read 22121212.She may struggle in the top races against the boys but should hold her own against her own sex. Mad Max was giving the winner and second 7lb and 10lb respectively and couldn't go with them after the last. It shouldn't be too long before he's visiting the winners enclosure again probably, as before, when one of the top boys is on board. El Dancer took a fall 4 out and returned with a bloody nose. Not sure if this was a result of his fall or had happened before the fall but he lives to fight another day. He may need an easier race to get some confidence back and is one to tread carefully with until he does.

The Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle was a fascinating affair and there were some really nice lookers in the parade ring. My Petra was taken to turn her luck around and all looked well until half a furlong out when the Irish trained Zarinava came with a late rattle to spoil the party once again. The lesser fancied of the Harrington pair, Paul Moloney tracked the leaders and looked booked for second or third until she just took off with a hundred yards to go. The 5lb she was receiving from My Petra was telling and the runner up is as game as they come so must surely get her reward soon. Pepite De Soleil was one of the paddock eyecatchers along with fourth placed Treaty Flyer. They too will surely visit the winners enclosure in time.Amber Brook looked fit enough to do herself justice but found it all happening too quick over this trip and you have to wonder what connections were hoping for sending her on this assignment. The owners had a shock winner at Cheltenham the week before but any investment on this one in the betting ring quickly went in the bookies satchel for keeps this week. A step back up in trip surely awaits. Alegralil would probably have been closer but for a bad mistake when just starting her challenge.

The Blue Square Handicap Chase saw the eagerly awaited return of last seasons Arkle second and Aintree winner Kalahari King. The previous day his trainer had suggested that the horse would run within the rules but would probably not be fit enough to win. I have found that the majority of the time when a trainer starts making excuses for a horse before its run its usually a good time to back them! So did I follow this trend? No, I just watched open mouthed as the 'King' ate up the ground from the last fence to the line leaving his rivals toiling. He certainly put himself firmly in the Champion Chase picture and one would assume he will give a good account in said race. The runner up and third give the form a solid look but were just outclassed. Oiseau De Nuit looks a safe jumper and will pay his way in handicaps. His young jockey seems to have struck up a good relationship with the horse so you would hope that connections stick with him. Free World is becoming expensive to follow. Sent off favourite here ( the sixth time from eight runs over fences) he ran well but was in receipt of 5lb from the winner and I can see no reason why he would reverse that form in the CC. He his still only a six year old so will probably progress with another year on his back. The remainder ran to form. The one to take out of the race was Doctor David. He had run three shockers up to this race after a fruitful Novice season last year, one of which saw him beat Kalahari King by 17 lengths, but ran a much better race here and would probably have been a bit closer but for two small errors over the last couple of fences. I think he will stick to around this trip for the time being and should prove worth following in the years to come.

The penultimate race on the card was the marathon 4 mile handicap chase. Some old favourites were running, none more so than one time Cheltenham Gold Cup third Turpin Green. Thankfully,Sue Smith had put 5lb claimer Shane Bryne to lessen the burden and he led most of the way, jumping beautifully under his young rider and was just outstayed at the business end of the race by Gidam Gidam who relishes a trip. This was his third run in the race and a steady progression has seen him go 6th, 3rd and todays win. He seems to hit a flat spot in his races but, on a track like this, can get that breather and stay on again to effect. The only worry for him now is that the handicapper will probably have hold of him again after this. Third placed Knighton Combe has been a revelation this season over regulation fences. There could be a few more races in him yet although his mark looks about right now. This trip just stretches Briery Fox and at 12 his chances will be fairly limited but around three and a half miles looks ideal for him, maybe they can find a veterans race for him to get his head in front again. His best runs usually come in the Spring and he should be back on his last winning mark after this run. There were some major disappointments in the race though with most of the fancied runners well down the field. Both of the Reveley horses were well behind and never looked likely to trouble the judge. Chiaro looks to need better ground and the same could be said about Minella Four Star who probably found this ground a bit too dead. King Benny, the other King representive was a major disappointment and looks one to steer wide of until they find something to make him happy. Kilbeggan Blade is another who only looks happy nowadays at Sandown or over hurdles so is worth avoiding until one or the other come along. Old King Harald was probably just there to give his young rider a day to remember and is getting long in the tooth now.

The betting suggested that there was only four in with a chance in the finale and so it proved. The strongly supported favourite Wayward Prince ran away with it in the style of a nice horse. He should pay his way as should the placed horse's but in general it wasn't a race to get too excited about.