Doncaster Saturday Preview - 02/03/2019

The opening race from Doncaster is the 888Sport Handicap Hurdle over three miles, and Three Ways can make a remarkable winning return for trainer Jamie Snowden and owner David Brownlow.

Absent since last March, this 8yo returns on a feasible and workable mark of 133, and is assisted today by 3lb claimer Paige Fuller on ground that is shaping to be good, perhaps good-to-firm.

Will be interesting to note the betting beforehand, and perhaps the lay-off has allowed him to freshen up.

Holds a card to play here.

Movie Legend looks the one to beat in the 888Sport Bet 10 Get 30 Handicap Chase, despite being the lowest horse in the field on ratings.

Looking highly progressive, this 9yo got his head back in front last time out at Wetherby after a series of close efforts for Lucy Wadham.

In fact in his last six outings, he has not been out the top three, and a rise up to a Class Two could bring more development out of him.

Big player.

The Listed 888Sport Take 'Em On Mares' Novices' Hurdle is one of the feature races at Town Moor this Saturday, where Danse Idol will look to take more valuable prize money home for Paul Nicholls.

Very lightly raced as a 6yo - just six runs in her career, six of which for the ten-times Champion Trainer.

She got off the mark over timber at Wincanton when beating Printing Dollars - a subsequent winner, before two valiant seconds behind the same mare at Haydock and at Sandown in a Listed and Grade Two company.

Her turn for glory here we think.

Looking Well can take the 888Sport Grimthorpe Handicap Chase for Nicky Richards, attempting to follow up his win here in Leg Two of the Veteran's Chase Series.

Sent off a 5/2 favourite, he was always in command between the final two fences and was ridden out on the run-in by Ryan Day, who is replaced today by Aidan Coleman.

The 10yo steps back up to above three miles looking to rewrite previous misfortunes, but looks at the top of his game at the minute.

Next up is the 888Sport Follow Us On Instagram Novices' Hurdle, and Emma Lavelle's Boomarang can improve from his third-placed finish here back in December.

Off the track since, he was beaten by a useful rival in Harry Whittingdon's Anemoi on his hurdles debut, having won a bumper at Newton Abbot in June.

Hardly any mileage on the clock as a 5yo - much less than a lot of this, and hopefully there should be much more to come here.

Big player.

Criq Sun makes his first start in Britain for trainer Tim Vaughan in the 888Sport Download The App Handicap Hurdle.

A winner on his final start in Ireland - where all of his eight outings have come for Lorna Fowler, broke his maiden tag and was enough for Vaughan to sniff around and get the trade done.

Thrown straight into a Class Four Handicap Hurdle after a bit work at home for his new boss, he could be in with a shout in a race not dominated by quality.

Chances here.

The card concludes with the 888Sport Standard NH Flat Race - for Conditional Jockeys And Amateur Riders, where Fostered Phil can use his valuable racecourse experience to his advantage against several newcomers.

Three efforts so far in his career - two of which for James Ewart, where he has finished third and second at Kelso in the last couple of months.

His second on Valentines Day to Enlighten proved that patience is of the essence, after the latter had progressed which each of his respective efforts to get off the mark at the fourth attempt.

Fostered Phil certainly has the scope to do that for himself.