Doncaster racing tip: Warm favourite Bhaloo should be wary of Dancing In Brazil
Scudamore has Job in mind for Doncaster
The last Friday in December rarely offers a stellar day at the races this side of the Irish sea, with this 11-runner novices’ hurdle perhaps the most competitive-looking race on the UK’s modest card.
14:15 Doncaster: kcsofas.co.uk British EBF NH Novices’ Hurdle (2 miles 3½ furlongs)
There’s plenty of runners living up to the ‘novice’ label in the race name here, so it’s hardly surprising that the betting market is dominated by those with proven hurdling experience.
Anyone clutching at each-way straws might be drawn towards debutant Ronnies Reflection or bottom-weight Braunton Burrows, whose seven-pound mares’ allowances is further enhanced by Tabitha Worsley’s three-pound claim.
The Alex Hales-trained Nothinelsematters was withdrawn from Catterick on Thursday, so connections might have more optimism than his price suggests here, but it would be a major surprise if any of the market’s bottom half-dozen, all of whom are available at 50/1 or more, will be among the three making the frame.
One of those spots is likely to be taken by Nicky Henderson’s firm favourite Bhaloo, who confirmed last season’s bumper form with a promising third of 13 behind odds-on Queen’s Gamble on hurdle debut at Kempton last month.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Bhaloo wins by more than 8 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
Despite Bhaloo’s even-money price, he is unlikely to have things all his own way, with top-weighted Parade Away earning serious consideration after marking his move from Milton Harris to Anthony Charlton with a useful second of 13 at Hereford 13 days ago.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Banteer is another with plenty of scope for improvement, and even more so now reunited with Harry Cobden, but our final nod goes to Alan King’s promising four-year-old Dancing In Brazil.
Having landed a 12-runner bumper on debut last year, Dancing In Brazil made the frame in three subsequent outings on the flat before blotting his copybook on hurdle debut when he unshipped jockey Tom Cannon four fences out at Wincanton last month.
Better was to come 16 days later when the same jockey piloted him to the runner-up spot in a 10-runner novice hurdle at Kempton, where he stayed on well, albeit without threatening the five-length winner Secret Squirrel, who remains unbeaten in three outings.
Cannon is in the saddle again for this step up in trip, which should open him up to more improvement and bring a positive response now that his stamina is more drawn out.
- Suggested bet: Dancing In Brazil in the 14:15 at Doncaster
- Tip advised by GV Early Alerts on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Doncaster racing tips: Best bets for Friday December 29
