Shishkin the headline act at Doncaster on Saturday - tips and analysis

Our pundit from bettingexpert.com/racing has previewed the action which also sees Cheltenham Festival hero Shishkin running on the undercard. The first race is at 12.55pm with the finale at 4.25pm.

As already alluded to, the Listed Sky Handicap Chase at 3.15pm is the feature race on the card in which 13 horses go to post.

The 11/4 favourite for the contest is Cap Du Nord for Welsh National winning trainer Christian Williams. The eight-year-old comes into the contest on the back of a fine second to subsequent Peter Marsh chase winner Royale Pagaille at Kempton last time out and this race has been the plan since. He looks well-weighted to go close in this event.

Alan King’s horses are in fine form and he saddles the progressive Canelo (5/1) who has won two of his last three starts. He impressed with the manner in which he scored at Wetherby last time out, but was behind Cap Du Nord at Newbury in November.

One For The Team (7/1) has a progressive profile and shaped well when second in Graded company at Newbury in November. Pitched into Grade One company, he was not disgraced when fifth in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he has to prove he can handle a competitive big-race handicap like this.

Aye Right (9/1) was a good second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November and warmed up for this assignment with a sixth-placed finish in a “Bumpers for Jumpers” contest at Newcastle on the all-weather at Newcastle earlier this month. Musical Slave (10/1) looks unexposed and comes into the race off a low-weight having finished fifth at Newbury on his latest start.

Top-weight Mister Malarky (12/1) bounced back to form in fine style when scoring in Listed company at Ascot in December, but it will be no easy feat to shoulder bags of weight in this ground.

Rocky’s Treasure (12/1) saw off Give Me A Copper (14/1) over course and distance in December and that effort would put him firmly in the picture for this assignment.

Others to consider include Boldmere (14/1) who was fourth to Rocky’s Treasure at Doncaster last time out and Yorkhill (16/1) who produced a mesmerising performance to win the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November.

Elsewhere on the card, Cheltenham Festival hero Shishkin takes centre-stage in the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase at 1.30pm over two miles. Nicky Henderson’s superstar captured the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March and is unbeaten in two starts over fences this season, both of which have come at Kempton. He eased to success in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton last time out and should have too many gears for his rivals as he prepares for a tilt at the Arkle Novices’ Chase back at Cheltenham in March.

His opposition includes the progressive Cheddleton who has looked a smart prospect with two easy wins over the larger obstacles of late, whilst Eldorado Allen was not disgraced when fourth to Allmankind in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

The five runners are completed by Est Illic and Fast Buck in what promises to be a fascinating event.

The other Graded action on the card includes the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (2.05pm) in which Floressa bids to return to winning ways. She was not disgraced when fourth in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and is one of two runners for Nicky Henderson along with Marie’s Rock who won her first three starts before returning from injury to finish seventh to Floressa at Newbury.

The progressive Miranda, Rayna’s World, former winner Irish Roe and Sopat complete the six runners.

The other Graded contest of the day is the Grade Two River Don Novices’ Hurdle (2.40pm) in which Ask A Honey Bee looks to have leading claims for Fergal O’Brien. He was a respectable third in Graded company at Cheltenham in December in a race in which Ashtown Lad was fifth and Pats Fancy was second

Others to warrant mention include Flash Collonges who scored at Wincanton in January and Bobhopeornohope who is unbeaten in two starts this season.

Doncaster selections

12.55pm – Sunset West

1.30pm – Shishkin

2.05pm – Miranda

2.40pm – Fern Hill

3.15pm – Aye Right

3.50pm – Mercian Knight

4.25pm – Billams Legacy

Tips and analysis via Betting Expert