Racecards
15:00 Doncaster
Ted Newiss 85th Birthday Celebration Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Good
Armageddon
258- Form 12/P6-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey R Flavin
pushed and effort after 4 out, outpaced from next
Diceman (IRE)
258- Form 3323/0-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
led, headed after 6th, ridden to lead again 2 out, jumped left left last, held on well flat
Ercon (IRE)
68- Form 06
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey E Husband
towards rear, struggling from 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Il Cavaliere
28- Form 14/322-2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey A Dempsey
in touch, slight mistake and lost place 4 out, headway next, effort and chance 2 out, carried left last, kept on same pace flat
- Form 25-6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
pushed along and effort 4 out, weakened next
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey M Batchelor
tracked leader, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
Kippour (FR)
19- Form 2-5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey M Bradburne
in touch, headway under pressure after 4 out, mistake and weakened from next
Ocean Dancer
18- Form 600
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey R Garritty
towards rear, never dangerous
Petros Chief
15- Form 0P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss M Rowland
- Jockey S Stronge
in touch, ridden and lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 01
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey J Culloty
ridden and effort approaching 3 out, soon one pace
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Small Shots
243- Form 1-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
Susan's Boy
399- Form 54-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey D R Dennis
in touch, ridden and weakened quickly 4 out
- Form 0-02
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T Siddall
towards rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, no impression
Keep Ikis
20- Form 3420/4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey F King
towards rear, never dangerous
In depth
Verdict
Il Cavaliere gets the nod ahead of his 17 rivals in this novice event. Following a moderate flat season, this seven-year-old made a solid season debut at Newcastle a week ago, finishing just one length second to Little Sport after blundering through the third-last. This race is just half a furlong shorter, he's wearing blinkers to aid his concentration, and with his three previous starts over hurdles from last season under his belt, he should be hard to beat. Nicky Richards has a 29% strike rate this season and this six-year-old could improve to add to that tally. He needed his hurdles and seasonal debut at Aintree last month, where he finished 26 lengths sixth to Jupiter De Bussy. He looks set for better things on ground that will suit. Phar From Frosty battled hard with Magic Liaison to win a two-mile bumper at Ludlow last month. His trainer has sent out four winners in four novice hurdle starts so far this season, so you would give him a chance. One to watch, rather than back, would be the J P McManus-owned The Pennys Dropped. This five-year-old put in a much improved run to finish second in a Plumpton bumper early last month and will have been well-schooled since then. King Harald looks the best of the rest. He made his racing debut over hurdles at Cheltenham last month, working hard to finish 12 lengths third to the infinitely more experienced favourite, Taming. His trainer doesn't have many horses, but does well with the ones he's got, although his jockey hasn't rode a winner since October.