Doncaster Saturday Preview - 30/01/21

The first race of the day at Doncaster on Saturday is the Handicap Hurdle over 2m3f and the horse we are siding with is the Philip Kirby trained Sunset West.

The handler has had great success at this meeting in the past and is looking to start the day off with a bang with this six year old having a leading chance.

Having been a smart horse in point to points, he finally made his rules debut in October over hurdles and it saw him finish a smart third at Wetherby behind two nice types.

He went to Kelso next time out when unfortunately falling, but brushed that run aside last time out when a close second at Newcastle over 2m6f.

The drop in trip should help on Saturday and the form of that race has been franked with the winner going on to win over fences last week at Ascot.

The first Grade Two at the Yorkshire track on the weekend is the Grade Two Lightning Novices' Chase and we can't see past the favourite Shishkin.

The seven year old since falling on his hurdles debut has shown bundles of ability and plenty of gears when it comes to finishing his races which have seen him land three contests in a row at Newbury, Huntingdon and of course Prestbury Park.

His win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has since been franked with the narrow second Abacadbras for Gordon Elliott since going on to land the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle, with third Chantry House and fourth Asterion Forlonge both going on to win on chase debut.

Shishkin could not be upstaged and on his first start over fences in November he showed the racing world just how good he is by pinging every fence and showing the turn of foot of last term, when just being nudged by Nico De Boinville and going away from the second placed Mick Pastor with ease.

Last time out he kept his outstanding unbeaten run going with another faultless round of jumping in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas and overall should have too much for this field again.

Marie's Rock for trainer Nicky Henderson is looking to bounce back to form on Saturday in this event, as the Seven Barrows handler has decided to send her here instead of the Betfair Hurdle.

The six year old daughter of Milan was a model on consistency last term for Nicky Henderson running three times and winning all of her events in good style, stepping up in class in each event.

Having won in May 2019 at Ffos Las in a bumper, in December of that year she made her hurdles debut at Haydock in an Introductory Hurdle and powered away from a smart field by five lengths.

She then headed to Taunton a few weeks later in a Listed Novices' Hurdle and again stepped up to beat some nice horses by eight lengths and she was all set to head to the Cheltenham festival and give Willie Mullins a run for his money in the Mares Novices' Hurdle.

However, she suffered an injury setback that saw her off the track for sometime and she unfortunately missed out on the festival in March.

She made her seasonal return this season at Newbury in the Listed Intermediate Hurdle looking to get back to form having fully recovered from injury and when coming with a challenge ultimately blew up and looked like she needed the run more than the yard thought.

If being well she is the one to beat.

It is raining Grade Two's on Town Moor and next up is the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle and Pats Fancy for Rebecca Curtis holds a big chance.

The six year old gelding holds some of the stand out form entering the race, being seen four times this term and only once finishing outside the top two.

In October he made his seasonal debut in a bumper and finished a good second behind the smart Alaphilippe for Fergal O'Brien who has turned out to be a very nice horse over hurdles.

He then went to Hereford in another bumper and did not seem to handle the track and was quickly sent over hurdles by his trainer.

He made a superb debut over flights, winning a decent maiden at Ffos Las over 2m4f which has since seen the second win a good Novice Hurdle.

Pats Fancy was stepped up in class last time out when sent to Cheltenham over three miles in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and finished a nice second.

He should come on for that run today and having showed experience in this company over this trip he looks a live player at 13/2.

One of the most interesting races on the card is the Sky Bet Listed Handicap Chase over three miles and Cap Du Nord is weighted to go extremely well.

The eight year old has been superb this season, finishing a good fourth on seasonal debut at Wincanton to blow the cobwebs away and then next time out getting off the mark for the term.

The gelding went to Newbury in a 16 runner Handicap Chase over 2m6f and jumped his opposition into submission, seeing off some of his rivals on Saturday.

Last time out he headed to Kempton in a similar event and finished a good second behind superstar Royal Pagaille for Venetia Williams, who has since franked that form by winning off a much higher mark next time out at Haydock and third placed Double Shuffle has since won next time out.

Cap Du Nord still seems to have plenty in hand when it comes to his handicap mark and if running to his current form has a big chance in this, handling the soft conditions well.

The penultimate event in Yorkshire is the Class 4 Handicap Chase over three miles and it could be a stellar day for Rebecca Curtis with her fielding Financial Outcome.

The eight year old will be ridden by the in-form Adam Wedge and the gelding has a great each way chance at the prices if putting in a sound round of jumping.

The son of Financial Reward has been hit and miss with his form this season, but when producing his best runs has finished second on heavy ground over three miles and also this last time out at Bangor in the same conditions; which was his first start since wind-surgery.

The gelding is a proven stayer that seems to act well on this track, having one past start at Doncaster on soft over 3m2f in January and being a ready winner and this looks to be a very similar event to that.

The final contest of the afternoon is the Mares' Bumper over two miles and with plenty in with a shout we are backing Step To The Top to finally get off the mark for Noel Williams.

The six year old has been seen in these events three times in her career, finishing a solid third of 11 on debut in January 2020.

She then went to Warwick in February and had to settle for second behind the smart Nada To Prada for Michael Scudamore.

She was last seen at Kempton in March, again finishing runner up behind Coquelicot for Anthony Honeyball and although without a win offers some of the stand out form in the event.