Tips and analysis from Racing Post ahead of Friday's meeting at Doncaster Racecourse

The Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer and Doncaster Racecourse hosts the first of their two-day Grimthorpe meeting in the build-up to the ‘Greatest Show On Turf’.
Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesPhoto by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

The seven-race card gets underway at 2pm with the final contest of the day at 5.15pm. The Racing Post have analysed all of the big-race victories and discussed the prospects of further riches at Prestbury Park in March.

The feature contest of the day, the £10,500 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3.40pm) over two miles, has attracted a competitive field which features the progressive Miah Grace. Trained by Jedd O’Keeffe and ridden by Joe Colliver, the five-year-old has shown smart form this year, backing up a fine victory at Hexham in December with a creditable third at Leicester on her first foray into handicap company in January. This is another step up in grade, but she retains an attractive unexposed profile which augurs well for a contest of this nature. Similarly, the five-year-old son of Malinas represents a trainer currently operating at a 25% strike-rate in the last fortnight, highlighting the form of the yard.

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The host of fascinating contenders in the race also includes the Dan Skelton-trained duo Ch’ti Diamond and Simply Loveleh. The former was well-beaten in Listed company on her first start for the yard at Warwick in February, but takes a significant drop in grade for this assignment. The five-year-old daughter of Diamond Boy defeated subsequent Grade Two scorer Fusil Raffles when trainer in her native France and is on strong interest dropped into handicap company here. Simply Loveleh has a progressive profile and has her first run since being beaten at Southwell in September. However, she is not one to give up on and is capable of further improvement. Furthermore, the Skelton team are currently operating at a 16% and thereby warrant respect in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival.

Elsewhere on the card, First Flow makes plenty of appeal in the three-runner £8,035 Novices’ Chase (4.45pm). A 25/1 shot currently for the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old son of Primary regained the winning thread with a convincing victory at Leicester earlier this month. A good third in handicap company in December at Ascot, this race looks his for the taking and could be an intriguing prep for Prestbury Park. His trainer Kim Bailey was enduring a slight spell in the doldrums, but has roared back to form in the last fortnight, operating at an 18% strike-rate and he should better that here.

Donald McCain is currently enjoying a creditable 9% strike-rate in the last two weeks and saddles the progressive Goobinator in. the £5,800 Novices’ Hurdle at 2.35pm. The four-year-old son of former Group One winner Noble Mission only cost 45,000gns, but has looked smart in winning two of his three starts over hurdles. He recorded a decisive 10-length victory at Carlisle last time out and a race of this nature looks well within his compass given his progressive profile.

Brian Hughes is currently a hot favourite to land the Jump Jockeys’ Championship and has a number of interesting rides on Town Moor including the unexposed Imada who returns from a 308-day layoff in the £8,035 Handicap Chase at 3.05pm. The 10-year-old scored at Perth when last seen on a racecourse and retains plenty of scope for further improvement.

Doncaster Selections

2.00pm 888Sport Novices' Handicap Chase (3m)

Selection: Big Nasty

2.35pm 888Sport Bet Novices’ Hurdle (2m½f)

Selection: Goobinator

3.05pm 888Sport Download The App Handicap Chase (2m 3f)

Selection: Imada

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3.40pm 888Sport Follow Us On Instagram Mares' Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Selection: Miah Grace

4.10pm 888Sport Take 'Em On British EBF Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (2m3½f)

Selection: It’s Probably Me

4.45pm 888Sport Novices' Chase (2m½f)

Selection: First Flow

5.15pm 888Sport Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)

Selection: Wheesht

For the latest results and racecards check the Racing Post

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