Tag Archive for: Doncaster

Tea For Free chasing five-timer in Sky Bet heat

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Tea For Free will look to continue a superb run of form when he lines up in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, winning four consecutive handicap chases and seeing his mark rise from 105 to a current figure of 138.

That mark leaves him to carry 11st 2lb on Town Moor, but conditional rider Lilly Pinchin will claim 3lb as Tea For Free bids to make it five on the spin for trainer Charlie Longsdon.

“He’s well and in good form, we’re looking forward to seeing him go,” said Longsdon.

“It’s a step up in class but we’ll see what happens. He’s progressed, he’s massively progressed and he’s gone up nearly 30lb in the handicap but it’s a big step forward, so we’ll see.

Tea For Free and Lilly Pinchin
Tea For Free and Lilly Pinchin (Nigel French/PA)

“He’s proven at the trip, if he can cope with a quicker pace and a step up in class then that’s great, but if not we’ll just think again.

“Lilly is taking weight off and we couldn’t be happier, we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”

Top weight is Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and stepping up in trip for the first time.

“He’s only a young horse with very few miles on the clock and you’d like to think there’s a degree of improvement in him, and hopefully part of that improvement comes from going up in trip as well,” said Snowden.

“He’s in the Ryanair this year and we’ll certainly think along those lines depending on how he gets on.”

Kerry Lee’s Demachine will line up under Caoilin Quinn for his first run since finishing mid-division in a Cheltenham handicap chase on New Year’s Day.

Prior to that the nine-year-old was second on better ground in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase at Newbury in November.

“He’s in good form, he was due to run at Ascot last weekend but obviously that didn’t happen,” said Lee.

Kerry Lee's Demachine
Kerry Lee’s Demachine (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“I’m not entirely sure he was suited to the track at Cheltenham, so we’re trying a flat track.

“I think he’ll like the better ground, it was May when he last won and the ground was good officially, it was that time of year when the ground is a bit drier than winter good.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Undersupervision landed the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last term and returns to the same track to step down two furlongs in trip under the trainer’s son Sam.

Last seen pulled up at Newbury, the chestnut should benefit from better ground this time around.

“He didn’t really cope with the soft ground at Newbury, but we’re going back to Doncaster where he’s got form, so hopefully he’ll run really well,” Nigel Twiston-Davies told Sky Sports Racing.

Undersupervision during his hurdling career
Undersupervision during his hurdling career (Tim Goode/PA)

“He is a stayer and we’ll want a nice, strong pace hopefully. He’s definitely got an each-way chance.

“So many horses haven’t run, so they’re all there.”

Elsewhere in the race is Jonjo O’Neill’s former Coral Gold Cup winner Cloth Cap, with Nicky Henderson represented by last season’s Scilly Isles second, Mister Coffey.

The reigning champion in the race is Brian Ellison’s Windsor Avenue, who defends his title under Ross Chapman.

Christian Williams’ Cap Du Nord, third in the past two runnings, competes again, with Tom George’s Java Point, the Stuart Coltherd-trained Cooper’s Cross, Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail and Shanty Alley from Ben Case’s yard completing the field.

Gordon favouring Betfair Hurdle for Aucunrisque

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Chris Gordon is poised to aim versatile Aucunrisque at Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle in a fortnight’s time and has all but ruled him out of a tilt over fences on Saturday.

The seven-year-old has won four of six races over hurdles, but has been campaigned in chases so far this term.

Having won on his fencing bow at Uttoxeter, he was runner-up to Frere D’Armes in the Fulke Walwyn Trophy at Newbury and was then beaten a length by Boothill in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Though he holds an entry in the MND Association Race For Research Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on Saturday, the Hampshire-based handler would sooner run him over hurdles before reverting to fences at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I’m very keen to run him in the Betfair,” said Gordon. “He’s also in the Grade Two on Saturday and if it breaks up, we might go for that, but I just think that he’s on a mark of 145, which is high enough for him over fences anyway.

“If he went and ran a blinder on Saturday, he could potentially go up 1lb or more.

“We’d like to go for the Grand Annual with him, but there we are on a mark of 138 for the Betfair, which makes a bit more sense, to go and have a run there.

“If we got lucky, it probably won’t affect our chase mark, so that’s the way I’d like to go, really.

“He’s in great form and we’re really pleased with him. Him and Highway One O Two, the plan is that both of those will go for the Betfair.”

Gordon has had a relatively quiet spell after a storming start to the season and is keen to get the ball rolling again.

“We’ve had it quiet in December, because we had a bit of a sniffle and we’ve been very quiet through January because we had to give them a flu jab,” he said.

“I had to back off them a fair bit and we are just about to get going.”

Into Overdrive ruled out of Sky Bet Chase date

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Into Overdrive will miss his intended run in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday after scoping dirty and now looks set to be saved for the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Mark Walford was primed to run in the valuable three-mile event after Into Overdrive defeated Sounds Russian in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Prior to that, the highly-progressive Court Cave gelding had chased home L’Homme Presse in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

However, hopes of a third success of the season will have to wait a while after Wendy Hamilton’s eight-year-old was found to be under the weather.

“It is disappointing, but it is nothing serious,” said Walford. “You’ve got to be at the top of your game to be running in those sort of races.

“There was just a little bit of mucus – nothing I’m overly concerned about, It is just bad timing.”

Walford added: “We will probably just wait for the Ultima at Cheltenham. There is nothing really in between.

“There is only a race at Kempton before Cheltenham that is suitable for him (Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, February 25), and I think we will probably prefer to go to Cheltenham over that.

“I’d expect we’ll have him cleared up in a week or so, but there are just not that many opportunities for him.

“It is gutting. These types of races don’t come along very often, but you get used to it when you deal with horses. You get problems and it is far from a major one, so he’ll be back and fine and there will be plenty of other nice races for him to run in.”

Cheltenham and Doncaster optimistic ahead of weekend fixtures

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Officials at Cheltenham and Doncaster are optimistic this weekend’s high-profile fixtures will go ahead as scheduled with temperatures across the country set to rise in the coming days.

National Hunt fans have been starved of action in the past week, with Hereford’s meeting last Monday followed by six consecutive days of no jumps racing in Britain.

Ffos Las got the show back on the road on Monday afternoon, but Tuesday’s cards at Exeter, Leicester and a rearranged fixture at Market Rasen have all been abandoned, while racing at Warwick on Wednesday is subject to an inspection at noon on Tuesday.

Beyond that, however, forecasts suggest temperatures will stay above freezing for the remainder of the week, which will undoubtedly be a big relief to the teams at Cheltenham and Doncaster in particular.

With the Grade One Clarence House Chase saved and rescheduled from last weekend’s abandoned meeting at Ascot, Cheltenham is set to play host to a bumper nine-race card that also features a recognised Gold Cup trial in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase and the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle.

And while parts of the Prestbury Park circuit remained frozen on Monday afternoon, clerk of the course Jon Pullin is hopeful the weather will not pose any problems.

He said: “We’re currently frozen following some frosts over the weekend, but the situation does improve, certainly from Wednesday onwards.

“We are forecast another frost this evening, getting down to minus 3C/minus 4C, but then things improve and from Wednesday daytime temperatures are due to rise to plus 6C or plus 7C.

“We could get down to around zero on Thursday and Friday night, but again temperatures are forecast to get back up to plus 6C or 7C on Saturday. If the forecast is correct, we’re hopeful that we’ll be OK.

“We’ve got nine great races, we’re delighted with the entries and obviously we’re really pleased to be able to stage the Clarence House.”

Racing at Doncaster
Racing at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

Doncaster is set to stage a quality two-day fixture on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday’s fare particularly mouthwatering.

The £100,000 Sky Bet Chase is supported by a trio of Grade Two contests, with the presence of 2020 Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante in the Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle an added bonus.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: “We’re currently frozen in places and on the areas of the track that have thawed we’ve got good ground.

“It’s 6C today, so it’s a nice thawing day, and the forecast is saying tonight is probably the last chance of us getting a frost this week. Thereafter temperatures increase to 9C or possibly 10C on Wednesday and the thaw will continue through to racing.

“It was nice to see Epatante entered this morning and 22 stood their ground for the Sky Bet Chase. Over the two days we have some very competitive racing, which is great.”

Windsor Avenue out to repeat Sky Bet Chase heroics

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Brian Ellison is optimistic Windsor Avenue can bounce back to form when bidding for a repeat victory in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

The 11-year-old was a shock 40-1 winner of the Town Moor feature 12 months ago, but has been pulled up in four of his subsequent five starts.

His fourth-place finish behind the top-class L’Homme Presse in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his penultimate start is giving his trainer hope, however, while he believes he has discovered a valid reason for his latest no-show in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Ellison said: “He ran really well at Newcastle, but then he finished lame the last time he ran and we found out afterwards he was sore in his knees.

“Hopefully we’ve got him back. He’s definitely working really well and we’ve managed to not miss anything with the bad weather, which is good.

“It’s a hot race and he has been frustrating, but he is in great form and when he’s on-song we know he’s a good horse.”

Windsor Avenue was fitted with blinkers for the first time in last year’s renewal, but did not finish his next three races in the headgear and it has been left off the last twice.

Brian Ellison trains Windsor Avenue
Brian Ellison trains Windsor Avenue (Mike Egerton/PA)

“The blinkers are finished for him,” Ellison added.

“They worked at Doncaster last year, but they didn’t work after that – he didn’t want to know.

“He didn’t even want to go out on the track with them on at Aintree (in October), so we took them off and he then ran well in the Rehearsal. Hopefully we can get back to that.”

Windsor Avenue was one of 22 horses left in the Sky Bet Chase at Monday’s confirmation stage, with Mark Walford’s Into Overdrive and Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law two of the leading contenders.

Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham
Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (David Davies/Jockey Club)

Into Overdrive was second in the Rehearsal before going one better in the Rowland Meyrick, while Ga Law was last seen winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

The weights are headed by Nicky Henderson’s Dusart, with Cap Du Nord (Christian Williams), the prolific Tea For Free (Charlie Longsdon) and Cooper’s Cross (Stuart Coltherd) also standing their ground.

Mr Incredible and Stolen Silver are two of the more notable absentees.

Tommy’s Oscar skips Haydock with Doncaster on agenda

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Connections of the versatile Tommy’s Oscar have decided to bypass a defence of his New One Unibet Hurdle title at Haydock on Saturday, but he could head to Doncaster next weekend for the Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Lightning Novices’ Chase

However, trainer Ann Hamilton and her husband Ian have decided to rule out the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old has won eight of his 15 starts over hurdles and has won one and been runner-up in two of his three starts over fences.

Tommy’s Oscar has shown plenty of aptitude for chasing, despite being held by Banbridge in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November, and narrowly failing to concede weight to Since Day One on his last outing at Newcastle.

In between those outings, he was back over hurdles, though no match for Constitution Hill when last of five in the Fighting Fifth at his local track.

The Hamiltons, who also own Tommy’s Oscar, have ruled out a crack at the Arkle, however.

Ian Hamilton said: “We are not going to Cheltenham, no way. If we were going anywhere, we’d go Aintree on a flatter track. The undulating track at Cheltenham wouldn’t suit him and it is going to be a hot Arkle.

“I just think Aintree would suit him better. He’s in fine fettle now, but we’re definitely not going to the Arkle.”

Tommy’s Oscar won three handicap hurdles last winter before completing a four-timer in the Grade Two at Haydock.

With a cold snap forecast this week and the possibility of jumps racing facing another hiatus, Hamilton will enter Tommy’s Oscar over fences, with the Lightning Novices’ Chase on the agenda.

Hamilton added: “We are not sure if it is the right thing to do, but we will stay chasing with him and while we looked at the Haydock race, we decided we will go chasing at Doncaster next week for that £50,000 race.

“He has to go where he has the best chance of picking up some prize money.”

Hamilton, a farmer by trade, feels Tommy’s Oscar is more likely to race nearer to their Northumberland yard in future, and added: “There would be more opportunities for Tommy if we travelled south all the time, but it is just a hassle to get down south for us. We are farmers and we have plenty of jobs to do here and there is the issue of getting staff as well.

“The travelling takes a lot out of them, too. There are not many big prizes up north. Doncaster, Haydock and Aintree are not too bad, but that’s about all.”

Wadham sets out Doncaster date for Martello Sky

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Popular grey Martello Sky will head to Doncaster after trainer Lucy Wadham opted not to run her stable star in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old has been ultra-consistent for the Newmarket yard, winning six of her 12 starts over hurdles and finishing runner-up in three others.

Those placed efforts have all been in her three runs this term and her latest effort saw her 13 lengths behind the impressive Love Envoi in a Listed race at Sandown last week.

Though beaten less than 10 lengths by Marie’s Rock when seventh in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival last season, Wadham has ruled out running Martello Sky in the March 14 renewal.

Connections of the Martaline mare will instead target the Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday week.

“We felt that the Mares’ Hurdle looked like being far too hot for us,” admitted Wadham. “We didn’t want to waste a bullet. We wanted to win rather than dib.

“We are going to look at the Doncaster race at the end of the month, a Grade Two.”

Martello Sky also won two of her four bumper starts and was was runner-up in another, though her string of seconds this term has seen her drop each time in the handicap, which opens up options.

“It is frustrating,” added Wadham. “She is a lovely horse to have in the yard and she loves her racing. She keeps being second and is rated 139 now. She started the season on 142 and has dropped 1lb after every run, so it is quite nice when you are getting black type at the same time.

“Her day will come, if she keeps running like she is. We are not quite at Grade One level, but we might be Grade Two level.

“So, we will look at Doncaster and we might just drop her into a handicap at some point.

“We could look at a Cheltenham handicap, but probably won’t. We’ll look at Doncaster and then go from there, and she is pretty versatile on ground, so that is very helpful.”

Willmount looks a star in the making with Doncaster victory

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Willmount made a dream start under rules for Neil Mulholland with an effortless success in the Good Luck “Beep Beep Burrow” Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race at Doncaster.

The Blue Bresil gelding won his sole point-to-point start as a four-year-old and then changed hands for £340,000 before being sent to Mulholland’s yard.

The 5-2 favourite from a field of 14, the Jamie Moore-ridden bay made light work of both the testing ground and his rivals to saunter home 13 lengths ahead without ever needing to hit top gear.

“He’s a very nice horse, whatever he did today he’ll improve from it,” Mulholland said.

“He’s only a baby but he cost a lot of money so I was a little bit harder on him, trying to get him ready first time out.

“That took the edge off him, so whatever he did today he will improve from.

“He’s a long-term prospect, he won’t be going novice hurdling this year. The owner is very relaxed, he’ll just go in bumpers because he’s just a baby.

“We’d go for one of the good bumpers – I’ll have to talk to the owners, but definitely. Why not?”

Mulholland had another victory on the card with Feel Good Inc, who built on earlier promise shown to land the Betting Better With Sky Bet Maiden Hurdle under Richie McLernon.

The gelding, a five-year-old by Westerner, fell when holding every chance in his sole Irish point-to-point start and was then third on his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter in November.

Feel Good Inc and Richie McLernon
Feel Good Inc and Richie McLernon (Simon Marper/PA)

The form from that race has panned out well, and at Doncaster he was a good winner at 9-1 when finishing a length and a half ahead of Nicky Henderson’s Issuing Authority – the 4-6 favourite.

“He’s a very nice horse and we’ve always liked him, hopefully he can continue on an upward curve,” Mulholland said.

“He’s a big baby but he’s a nice horse. When he was placed last time out, the horse behind him came out and won a Listed bumper and the winner has come out and won since – the form seems pretty good.”

Henderson’s Bold Endeavour claimed another chasing success when taking the Sky Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

He was trained to bumper and hurdle wins by Laura Morgan before being pulled up on his debut over fences and subsequently moved into the care of Henderson.

His first run for Seven Barrows came in a Leicester handicap chase in early December, where he prevailed by 10 lengths against a field of six rivals.

That performance made him the 5-6 favourite on Town Moor, and under Nico de Boinville he came home seven lengths ahead despite losing ground on occasion with his jumping.

“The ground was plenty soft enough for him,” said the jockey.

Bold Endeavour and Nico de Boinville
Bold Endeavour and Nico de Boinville (Simon Marper/PA)

“He’s probably also better going the other way round but I was pleased that he knuckled down the way he did.

“They’ve gone a nice, even gallop, everyone was happy with the pace behind me and it suited him to run like that.”

Rose Dobbin’s Aazza was an easy winner of the Taj’s Time To Design ‘Hands And Heels’ Handicap Hurdle under 3lb claimer Dylan Johnston.

The seven-year-old was a 7-2 shot when looking to better a second-placed effort at Newcastle last time out, a run that left her on the same mark of 90 when lining up for this latest assignment.

From a field of 19 the mare was a facile winner, taking an unchallenged lead and crossing line with barely a rival in sight to secure a 20-length victory.

Bold Endeavour and Nico de Boinville
Rose Dobbin’s Aazza (Simon Marper/PA)

“That was very nice, very nice indeed, she’s a lovely horse with lovely owners,” said Dobbin.

“She’s very genuine. She’s probably going up a stone for that!

“She will go back over fences in spring at Hexham, she likes Hexham and I wouldn’t run her at a big track over fences. I think we’ll stay over hurdles for the moment.”

Hidden Beauty returned to the winner’s enclosure for Fergal O’Brien when triumphing in the Betting Better With Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old won her bumper debut at four and was well-regarded at this point in the season last year, but atrial fibrillation interrupted her progress and she was carried out when making her hurdles debut in October.

Hidden Beauty and Paddy Brennan
Hidden Beauty and Paddy Brennan (Simon Marper/PA)

A fourth-placed run last time was a step forward and under Paddy Brennan she was a four-and-a-half-length winner at a price of 12-1.

“She’s a very, very nice mare. She was favourite for the Listed bumper at Cheltenham last year and then she suffered from the atrial fibrillation,” said Nick Brown of owners Nick Brown Racing.

“Fergal and the team have done a fantastic job to get her confidence back, that’s what she needed. The quality has always been there, it’s just that she needed the confidence.

“She also needs better ground, when he came here we were a little worried about the ground, but it was more of a confidence builder and it’s all worked out really well.”

The Questioner made his chasing debut a winning one with a hard-fought success in the Sky Bet UKs No.1 Betting App Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The Questioner and Craig Nichol (left)
The Questioner and Craig Nichol (left) (Simon Marper/PA)

Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and ridden by Craig Nichol, the chestnut has been progressive in hurdle contests and was the 7-4 favourite to retain that form when tasked with jumping a fence for the first time.

Standing in his way was Charlie Longsdon’s Lyrical Genius, who battled him all the way to the line to miss out by a short head as the rest of the field came home 31 lengths or more behind.

“He was a little bit careful, but as the race went on he built up confidence and he was very good,” said Nichol.

“Once he gets out and gets his space, he’s very good. He just had a bit of a habit of lugging right and today he’s left it behind him a little bit.

“He’s battled, the second horse wasn’t going to let me be. The two of them have had a great battle.”

Gordon eyeing Lightning strike for Aucunrisque

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Connections of Aucunrisque are pondering options which include the Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster later this month.

The Chris Gordon-trained seven-year-old showed plenty of promise over hurdles, winning four and finishing second from six starts.

That early promise has translated to fences with a win and two runner-up efforts from three starts, the latest when going down by a length to Boothill in the Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas.

The Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick next month is another possible destination, although the Hampshire-based handler could head straight to the Cheltenham Festival with the Goodwin Racing-owned gelding.

“Much will depend on the way the weather goes,” said Gordon. “I love the name of the Kingmaker but if I had to go for one of those sorts of races, it would be the Donny race, the Lightning.”

He added: “They have all had their flu jabs now and I could be quiet in January.

“I just thought that Donny race (on January 28) might be a nice race for him, but if we don’t go there, we might well head towards the Grand Annual.

“We could go straight there – the owner would be quite keen on a day out at Cheltenham. We haven’t really discussed it, but he is a pretty laid back guy and lets me get on with life.

“If he comes back from the flu jab grand, we’ll probably go to Donny and if not, we’ll go straight to the Grand Annual.”

The yard has not had much luck over the festive period, with just one winner from the last 30 runners, although Blame The Game only just failed by a neck to justify favouritism in the Sussex National Handicap Chase at Plumpton on Monday and had to be content with playing second fiddle to Atakan.

“That was a little bit painful,” said Gordon. “I thought Aucunrisque would nick the Wayward Lad coming off the bend and I thought we’d won the Sussex National, but I keep getting it wrong.

“Blame The Game has taken it well, though. He had a tough old race, but I have been very proud of him the way he has conducted himself this season.

“I haven’t got any long-term plans – as the Sussex National was the plan. We will regroup in February and then hopefully come up with a lot more plans then.”

Watson keen to test Grove Road up in class

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Archie Watson will step Grove Road up in class for his next outing as the trainer bids to find out if he has a Cheltenham Festival contender on his hands.

The Mahler gelding won a bumper in December 2021 and opened his account over hurdles at Carlisle in October.

Upped to an extended three and a quarter miles in soft ground at Hereford, he gained a neck success over previously unbeaten Mr Vango, with the pair well clear of the remainder.

Now the Upper Lambourn handler will hand the Hambleton Racing-owned seven-year-old a stiffer test, with the River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster on January 28 pencilled in.

“We are very happy with him – he has come out of the race well,” said Watson.

“He has done nothing wrong under rules – he’s won his bumper and a novice hurdle, and now a novice hurdle under a penalty.

“He was going to go to Cheltenham for a Grade Two, but that meeting was called off, so it was good that they put that meeting on at Hereford. It was a good time-frame for us.

“The River Don is the next race for him now.”

Anything Grove Road achieves over hurdles is a bonus, according to Watson, whose yard has sent out eight jumps winners from just 20 runners this term.

He added: “We’ll see how he runs in either one or two of those Grade Twos before Cheltenham and then see if he ends up an Albert Bartlett horse, or whether we look towards handicaps.

“Long-term, his future was always going to be over fences. He’s a very straightforward horse, nice to deal with, nice to look after.”

Watson added: “We have had plenty of jumps winners. My wife, Brodie, trains them mostly. She gets the credit. It is a lot of fun and we have a good strike-rate.”