4:05 Doncaster – Getareason 14/1 E/W

I think you can conceivably pick holes in all of the runners here; some are returning from chasing (a couple of whom are also doing so after a long break) while others line up in poor form. Small Present is the only one who can’t be tarred with one of those brushes, but he steps up in class following his win in a modest Catterick handicap and conditions will be vastly different here.

With that in mind, Getareason looks a very big price. From Mullins to Nicholls to Menzies this season, the latter of those switches may not be viewed as a positive but Rebecca Menzies has done well with Sao this term who came from Nicholls, while its interesting to note that this is Getareason’s third start for the yard; Sao won on his third start for the yard, so perhaps they just need a couple of runs to be ready.

Getareason ran well on two of his three starts over fences for Paul but to my mind, he never fully convinced over fences. With that in mind, the switch back to hurdles seems wise. While the majority of his form has come over intermediate trip, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and he was tried over three miles on a couple of occasions in Ireland. Good ground suits and I imagine that a track like Doncaster will play to his strengths.

After all, this is a horse who placed in Grade 1 and Grade 2 company as a novice hurdler when the going was on the quick side.

As mentioned previously, I don’t think this is a particularly strong race and following a couple of spins on the all weather, Getareason looks primed for a big run with conditions in his favour.

3:35 Newbury – Regarding Ruth 16/1 E/W

4:30 Doncaster – Doyen Dancer 11/2

Regarding Ruth

An open event, but the diminutive Regarding Ruth looks way overpriced at present.

A winner on her seasonal reappearance for the second consecutive season, she posted another respectable effort in a deeper race next time at Market Rasen; the winner of that has finished 3rd and 2nd on his next two starts while the runner up is now eleven pounds higher in the weights following a series of good efforts an emphatic win last time out.

Her last two runs are easily forgiven; the first came on unsuitability soft ground while the other was in a jumpers’ bumper which only served as a means of keeping her ticking over through the winter.

Lucy Wadham and Bryony Frost’s partnership has proved a fruitful one and its notable that Bryony rides for Lucy here instead of Neil King. When paring up in handicap hurdles, the pair have an impressive 24% strike rate (59% place rate) while the yard have been in good form of late.

Three miles on quick ground is exactly what this admirable mare wants and given these conditions, she looks sure to give a bold showing.

Of her rivals, I do think a few of these have something to prove. Dhowin fell at the first less than 2 weeks ago while Howling Milan wouldn’t be the most consistent or prolific although he is officially four pounds well in. Others are returning from breaks, switching from fences or have stamina to prove. With few doubts surrounding Regarding Ruth, she looks a big price.

Doyen Dancer

Doyen Dancer was very well backed for his debut for Fergal O’Brien but it was clear that all was not well from an early stage. Paddy Brennan reported that he was hanging left, which abundantly clear upon watching the race back while he could never get competitive in what was a fiercely run race over the minimum trip.

Off since, this winning pointer faces vastly different conditions today. Switched to fences, stepping up in trip and on a left handed track all looks likely to suit given what we know about him. Closely related to Real Steel, his dam is a half sister to a Grade 3 winning chaser while on appearance he looks the type to take to fences. It’s also worth noting that Fergal’s runners have been profitable to follow on their first run over fences when running in a handicap.

Speaking of the trainer who is a master of getting one ready after an absence which eliminates the concern a 96 day break brings, his recent record at Doncaster is phenomenal; since 2020, his 17 runners here have recorded six wins with a further six placing. If just looking at those ridden by Paddy Brennan, his record improves to 6 wins from 10 runners with a further one finishing second. Those winners came at: 6/1, 9/2, 5/2, 12/1, 9/2 and 5/1 so it’s not as if they were all extremely short prices.

A fair few of those are coming off a break too and the market leader, One More Fleurie, is running under a penalty but is not well in at the weights. Furthermore, the horse he beat last time is a 25 race maiden over jumps.

With that in mind, Doyen Breed appeals as the most fascinating contender and he’s a decent price to boot.

3:00 – Totally Rejected 16/1 E/W (18s with 365, 16s 4 places with Sky)

A big price, but there are reasons to expect a good effort today.

The keen going Totally Rejected has still only had five starts over hurdles so it is too soon to abandon all hope with him, while its interesting to see Donald McCain apply a hood for the first time; if you watch his last run back, you can see why he could benefit from headgear as he was far too keen in the early stages. To his credit, he plugged on well enough after being passed by the ready winner. If you take the winner out of that race, there was only four lengths between the next four home and given how hard Totally Rejected pulled, he did well not to completely fold.

Since July 2017, Donald McCain’s runners in a first time hood have record led form figures of: 23143P41223331; three wins and seven placed from fourteen runners.

Furthermore, Totally Rejected sole win came after a break of 283 days so his absence is no concern and it’s likely the case that he was kept off during the winter due to unsuitably soft ground.

Musselburgh is a sharp track and he is likely to get an easy time of things out in front and if settling slightly better, he could make it tough for those in behind to pass him. The danger would be if Fisher Green readopts positive tactics as a battle for the early pace would not suit either

A mark of 105 demands a career best but with conditions in his favour and given his lightly raced profile, he could well deliver at a big price.

3:05 – Dali Mail 5/1

A small field and so but there is certainly not a lack of pace. Victory Echo likes to front run, with his maiden success over fences coming as a result of a well judged ride but he had a very easy time of things up front.

That won’t be the case here; I’m to Blame also likes to front run while Reivers Lad also likes to be prominent. Touch Kick stays much further and sports first time cheekpieces while Ardera Cross also stays much further so won’t want to get too far back.

With that in mind, this may set up perfectly for Dali Mail, for whom a strongly run two miles looks ideal.

His first win over fences came when beating I’m To Blame, who he is now five pounds better off with despite the latter being in poor form.

While he didn’t progress as might’ve been expected, he was in the process of running a big race over C&D back in January 2020 when falling and there has been encouraging signs on his two starts this term.

First seen in a Graduation Chase, he was conceding weight to all bar one of his rivals, most of whom were rated higher, and he shaped as if needing the run. Stepped up to 2m4f at Aintree when last seen, he was patiently ridden which does not suit that track but he did well to make headway before tiring late on. That was a better race than this and it’s somewhat surprising that the handicapped dropped him 3lbs for that effort.

Donald Whillans does well at Ayr (A/E 1.1 all runners) while Dali Mail won a maiden hurdle here. The yard hasn’t had a winner since December but they’ve only had 15 runners since and they’ve had a few go very close at big prices recently.

He’s been off the track for nearly three months but if fully fit, he should have a great chance in a race of this nature considering he remains relatively unexposed.