Friday 15 December 2017 17:26, UK
Rose Dobbin has the Edinburgh National as a possible early target in 2018 for Mister Don after the seven-year-old ended a luckless spell in the footballacca.tips 'Confined' Handicap Chase at Doncaster.
Mister Don had been second five times and third three times in 11 starts since winning at the South Yorkshire track 13 months ago, and it was a return to Town Moor that saw a change in his fortunes.
Trainer Rose Dobbin used Mister Don's blank spell to pinpoint this three-and-a quarter mile race and it paid off as the 11-2 shot outstayed Alvarado by four-and-a-half lengths under Craig Nicol.
"I'm chuffed. We spotted the race a while ago and it's quite nice when a plan comes off," said the Alnwick handler.
"He's been very consistent but he'd had a bit of seconditis. It was a perfect race for him because it was for horses that hadn't won since last November, so we're very happy.
"He wants decent ground as he's by Presenting and he needs a long-distance race.
"It's got to be a stiff, three-mile plus race for him. Having said that, he's run well round Market Rasen and Muselburgh.
"There's a four-mile chase at Musselburgh in February. We'll have a look at that.
"He loves Doncaster and he jumped great today. He's a fine horse to have."
Trainer Dan Skelton was delighted to see Value At Risk (5-1)
get back on track with his first victory for 14 months in the grandnational.fans Handicap Hurdle.
The Kayf Tara gelding came to England with a tall reputation from Philip Fenton's stable in Ireland three years ago after finishing third in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown.
Though he made a successful hurdling debut it has been far from plain sailing. After he fell in his first two attempts over fences, he was put back over the smaller obstacles and picked up a Grade Two contest at Fairyhouse in March 2016.
After a chasing campaign last term when he did open his account over fences, connections decided to go hurdling again.
That has resulted in a confidence-boosting win in which he had to dig deep for jockey Harry Skelton to hold Cake D'Isle by half a length.
"It was great to see him back on track and get a 'one' next to his name," said the Alcester trainer.
"His owner-breeder has been very patient. The blinkers made a big difference. They helped him concentrate.
"Where we go next I don't know, but it was just good to see him win."
