Cheltenham Festival Trials Day tops the racing bill this coming Saturday. However, there is no shortage of quality events elsewhere in the country. Looking north to Yorkshire, the quality seven-race card at Doncaster features a pair of Grade 2 contests, including this 3m½f affair for the up-and-coming staying hurdlers.
Named in honour of the river that flows through the town, this £75,000 contest first appeared on the Doncaster menu in 1991. The star names on the roll of honour are Barton (1999), who went on to claim Grade 1 contests at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, and the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptunes Collonges (2006), who landed a thrilling edition of the Aintree Grand National in 2012.
Given the trip, this race can be a stepping stone towards the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. In the days leading up to the race, the following 12 runners remain in contention – eight of whom hold an entry for the big race on Day 4 of the magical meeting in March.
1. Bill Joyce – 7/2 with bet365
Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill
Successful in two of three Bumpers last season – the only disappointment coming in the Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival – this son of Mahler looked like a horse to follow as he set out over hurdles. Thus far, he has delivered on his promise. Much too good in a Class 3 event at Carlisle, he stepped up on that to claim the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown. He was no match for The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle, but time may show there is no disgrace in that. The main concern is the trip, which he is yet to tackle under rules (he also holds an entry in the 2m4½f Grade 2 event at Cheltenham on Saturday).
2. Western Knight – 7/2 with bet365
Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Unlike Bill Joyce, Western Knight didn’t show much in Bumpers, with two outings yielding two defeats in Class 4 and Class 5 company. He has been much better over obstacles. Breaking his duck at Uttoxeter, he followed up at Ascot before finishing second in a Cheltenham Grade 2 over just short of this trip in December. Stamina didn’t look like an issue that day, and any improvement may see him go close.
3. Belliano – 6/1 with bet365
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
An impressive winner of his Irish Point to Point, Belliano had the misfortune of bumping into The New Lion on his hurdles debut at Chepstow, when finishing a similar distance behind that rival as Bill Joyce in the Challow. Stepped up to 2m5½f next time at Ascot, he was back in the Winner’s Enclosure, with the manner in which he hit the line suggesting this additional distance might suit
4. Frisby – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Patrick Neville
Also successful in the Irish Point-to-Point sphere, Frisby has yet to hit the heights under rules. He showed some promise when second in his bumper at Ayr but faded out of contention over 2m3½ on his hurdles debut at Catterick in December and is very difficult to recommend on the back of that display.
5. Gamesters Guy – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Consistent performer who has finished in the first three in all five outings under rules, including two bumper wins and a 16l romp in a Class 4 Novice Hurdle at Carlisle last time out. He steps up to this trip for the first time and into significantly deeper waters but had two subsequent winners behind him at Carlisle and is likely open to further progress.
6. Gold Cup Bailly – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Stuart Crawford
The oldest and most experienced runner amongst the entries, Gold Cup Bailly already has 12 outings under rules to his name. Having landed a 3m heavy ground chase contest at Ayr in 2023, he shouldn’t be lacking in the stamina department. Some of his hurdles form also reads fairly well – most notably his runners-up effort behind Ahoy Senor. However, that came back in 2021, and his two most recent efforts over timber have produced two defeats by a combined 40l.
7. Jig’s Forge – 6/1 with bet365
Trainer: Ben Pauling
Steadily progressive in Point-to-Points, this son of Westerner claimed a Tattersalls Farm contest in good style before joining the Ben Pauling operation in November 2024. Sent to Ffos Las for his yard and hurdles debut, he went into many notebooks when making all the running for a cosy 6l success. It was easy to be impressed by that, but post-race comments suggested he may stick to 2m4f for now. As such, the Grade 2 at Cheltenham on Saturday may be the more likely option.
8. Ma Shantou – 7/2 with bet365
Trainer: Emma Lavelle
Formerly based in Ireland, Ma Shantou easily landed his bumper on debut for Emma Lavelle last season before stopping as though something was amiss in the Grade 2 at Aintree. Questions remained following a 14l defeat on hurdles bow at Wincanton, but the six-year-old has improved markedly since moving up in trip. Much too good over 2m5f at Warwick, he was value for more than the 1¾l winning margin over 2m4f at Windsor in December. The form of that contest doesn’t amount to much, but Ma Shantou looks like the type of dour stayer who may enjoy this test.
9. Minella Sixo – 5/1 with bet365
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Seemingly highly regarded by his trainer, Minella Sixo scores top marks for consistency, having finished in the first three in all six career outings. Wins at Fairyhouse and Thurles sandwiched a 2¼l second to the highly talented Potters Charm at Cheltenham before second and third-placed efforts in Grade 3 and Grade 2 company. He is well worth his place in the field but probably needs to improve to take top honours.
10. Moon Rocket – 5/1 with bet365
Trainer: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
Another Irish Point-to-Point winner, the form of Moon Rocket’s Curraghmore success hasn’t been particularly well advertised by those who finished behind. However, the five-year-old has excelled under rules in two starts to date. 12l too good for the field over 2m5f at this track in November, he built on that when easily accounting for his rivals in a 3m½f soft ground event at Southwell on New Year's Day. This demands more, but his proven stamina and ability to handle the likely conditions count in his favour.
11. Yellow Car – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson
This seven-year-old has won in Point-to-Point, Maiden, and Novice company for Graeme McPherson at up to 2m5½f. Pitched into the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett trial at Cheltenham last time, he ran a fair race to stay on for third. However, he was 9½l adrift of the winner that day, suggesting he may be just short of the required standard for win purposes.
12. Sunset Hill – 28/1 with bet365
Trainer: Susan Corbett
Sired by St. Leger winner Kingston Hill, this six-year-old showed little on his first five outings, in Point-to-Points and under rules, but has improved of late. That said, the contest he claimed at Kelso looked particularly weak for the grade, and he didn’t appear to be crying out for a step up in trip when fading close home over 2m4½f last time out at Southwell.
The Verdict
This looks like an excellent renewal on paper, with Bill Joyce and Western Knight bringing solid form to the table. Moon Rocket and Gamesters Guy have yet to achieve quite as much, but they may be open to improvement.
Overall, the one to be on for our money is Belliano. Going for Paul Nicholls, who landed the 2006 and 2012 editions of this, the Black Sam Bellamy gelding is one of the least exposed runners in the field and built on his second to The New Lion when getting on top later over 2m5f last time. With the prospect of more to come over this additional distance, he looks rock-solid value at the prices.
Recommended Bet: Belliano to win @ 6/1 with bet365