Tips and analysis ahead of Friday's first jumps meeting of the season at Doncaster

Friday’s card boasts seven races an plenty of prize money on offer with competitive fields across the seven-race card. The opening contest is at 11.55am with the finale at 3.10pm. We’ve previewed all of the action with stats and analysis.

One of the feature races of the day is an ultra-competitive Handicap Chase over an extended two miles and three furlongs which carries a prize fund of £12,200 at 1.25pm.

Top-weight Kilfilum Cross is talented yet difficult to win with for Henry Oliver. He finished second at this year’s Cheltenham Festival in the Kim Muir but disappointed on his most recent start when pulled-up back at Prestbury Park earlier this month. There is more improvement to come off a mark of 140 however and it is too early to be writing him off.

The Unit is a former winner at the track and was not disgraced in Listed company when fourth after a long lay-off at Wetherby last month. Nietzsche is a former winner of the Greatwood Hurdle and has won two of his seven starts over fences to date. He finished third in the same event contested by The Unit at Wetherby and is another to note along with Cracking Find who hinted at a return to form when third at Wetherby last time out.

Others to consider include Dr Sanderson. He represents Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls who is currently operating at a 25% strike-rate in the last two weeks. The six-year-old bolted up at Plumpton on his return to action at Plumpton and there looks to be plenty more improvement to come off a mark of 139. Pogue finished second to a horse who has gone on to win again since and is of note along with Cracking Well who finished a respectable fifth in the Old Roan at Aintree last month.

The opening Handicap Chase at 11.55am over two miles also boasts a prize fund of £12,200 and features the talented Theflyingportrait. Representing Jennie Candlish who is operating a 32% strike-rate in the last 10 days, he needs to improve on a sixth-placed effort at Aintree earlier this month. Jaboticaba needs to bounce back from a below-par effort at Wincanton last time out having started the season with success at Warwick in September, whilst Double W’s boasts plenty of smart form in his back catalogue, but needs to improve on two disappointing efforts of late.

Champion jockey Brian Hughes partners Yccs Portocervo for Dr Richard Newland and the pair look to hold live claims. The five-year-old was a creditable third on his return to action at Kempton and given his age, there should be plenty more to come over fences for a horse having just his fifth start over the larger obstacles.

Elsewhere on the card, the £5,800 Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half-miles at 12.25pm looks a fascinating event. Bobhopeornohope represents the in-form Kim Bailey and David Bass and bids to defy a penalty following a smart success at Exeter earlier this month. He takes on the similarly unexposed Flash Collonges who made the perfect start to life under Rules when also scoring at Exeter on the same day earlier this month. They look the pair to focus on and could both have bright futures.

Doncaster Friday Selections via BettingExpert:

11.55pm Theflyingportrait

12.25pm Bobhopeornohope

12.55pm Petite ganache

1.25pm Kilfilum cross

2.00pm Molliana

2.35pm Jean Genie

3.10pm Great Gable

Tips and analysis via Betting Expert