Who To Follow On Sunday?

The first Grade One contest of the day in Ireland Is the Neville Hotels Novice Chase over three miles and with a field of high class entries we like the look of Minella Indo.

Henry De Bromhead has been in superb form of late landing many big races and with Rachael Blackmore also doing the same it is hard to back against the duo.

Minella Indo was a top staying novice hurdler last season landing the Grade One Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival and also a Grade One at the Punchestown festival.

This season the six year old is tackling the bigger obstacles and was a good second behind Laurina on debut over 2 mile 4f and now stepping back up to his preferable three miles he should be in the mix.

Warren Greatrex is a very shrewd trainer that does not seem over work his horses on the track and picks there choice of race very wisely.

With that in mind he holds two really strong entries at Doncaster on Sunday and we believe he is the trainer to follow with these horses.

In the big race of the day at Doncaster Greatrex has La Bague Au Roi and this mare was remarkable last season getting off the mark in a beginners chase at Newbury and then just weeks later followed that up in superb style at the same track over course and distance in a Grade Two.

Boxing Day was calling and at odds 8/1 she went on to surprise many by landing the Grade One Kauto Star Novices Chase seeing off some superb competition in Topofthegame and Santini.

Strangely Warren Greatrex took her over to Ireland at Leopardstown and entered her in the Grade One Flogas Novices Chase which again she prevailed nicely and looked a serious chaser to be respected.

She finished her season off at Aintree in the Manifesto Novices Chase where she was outshined by Kalashnikov but still ran nicely.

This season she has not quite found the sound form being pulled up on her seasonal debut at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase and then she finished third in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, If she is anywhere near her best on Sunday she goes on to win this contest.

In the penultimate race of the day he fields Bob Mahler this seven year old gelding has only ever won during the summer and spring but is now down to a very feasible mark that makes him highly attractive to break his winter duck.

Last time out at Haydock in November he finished a fair third behind some really progressive horses and now in what looks a weaker race he holds every chance.

Harry Skelton has had a decent Christmas period landing a nice Grade One at Chepstow on Welsh Grand National Day and we believe he will be in the winners enclosure again here.

He has two big chances at Doncaster on Sunday the first comes in the opener with the five year old Boss Man Fred who is three out of three during his career landing a point to point in March and since going to the Skelton yard he is two from two over hurdles.

This season he landed a Class 4 with ease at Kempton and in a sightly better race at Southwell he did the same and although needing to progress again he holds the best form in the contest.

Straight after that in the second contest of the afternoon he rides the mare Maire Banrigh has been in red hot form during the last two years winning all four of her contests and looking like a smart mare who was bought for £320,000.

She has been raced three times this season at Carlisle, Stratford and last time out at Warwick where she gave a career best to see off the smart Thomas Darby.