Tips and analysis ahead of Wednesday's meeting at Doncaster

With just three weeks until the Cheltenham Festival, Doncaster Racecourse stages a seven-race card on Wednesday which could provide late Festival clues.
Jockeys make their way out at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool / Getty ImagesJockeys make their way out at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool / Getty Images
Jockeys make their way out at Doncaster. Photo: Tim Goode - Pool / Getty Images

The action gets underway at 1.45pm, with the finale at 5.05pm. We have previewed the action with stats and analysis.

The feature race of the day is the £20,000 Veterans’ Handicap Chase at 3.30pm over three miles. Kim Bailey’s horses are in fine form with the trainer enjoying a 37% strike-rate at present. He scored in gutsy fashion at Doncaster in December before being pulled-up back at Town Moor in the Listed Skybet Chase last month.

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Ami Desbois is a solid yardstick for Graeme McPherson and returned to action with a fine second at Kempton last time out. That came after over 11 months off the track and whilst he has to back that run up, he looks a solid contender here.

West Approach is talented, yet quirky and finished second at Cheltenham in October. However, he has been well below that form in his last two runs and now arguably has questions to answer.

Activial feel on his return to action at Aintree at Newbury, but is another with claims, whilst Fagan, a smart winner by eight lengths at Newbury in January is another to note along with Guitar Pete.

Elsewhere on the card, the £12,200 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2.20pm) is another competitive event in which The Late Legend bids to continue his fine form for Tom Weston. The progressive eight-year-old has won five of his last seven starts and scored in good style at Doncaster last time out.

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Gleno scored twice at the back-end of last term, but needs to return to form after a disappointing effort at Wincanton last time out, whilst Glenduff is of interest returning to a to a track where he finished third last term.

Minella Encore was a solid second at Kelso on his latest start and should improve for wind surgery, whilst Eva’s Oskar needs to improve on three tame efforts over fences so far this term. Igor and Ocean Cove complete the seven runners.

Across the rest of the action, the £6,800 Novices’ Hurdle (2.55pm) looks an interesting contest in which Patroclus bids to back up a smart win at Exeter last time out for Nicky Henderson. His main rival looks to be Jeremys Pass who scored in fine fashion at Wincanton last time out, before being pulled-up at Ascot last month.

Riggs scored by eight lengths at Uttoxeter in November and was far from disgraced when pitched into a competitive handicap at Kempton in Kempton. Get Prepared cost £60,000, but was very disappointing on his debut at Huntingdon in December and is surely capable of improvement, whilst maiden winner A Large One Please is another to note.

Doncaster selections

1.45pm – Paros

2.20pm – The Late Legend

2.55pm – Patroclus

3.30pm – Rocky’s Treasure

4.05pm - Big Bresil

4.35pm – Joe Farrell

5.05pm – Phil De Pail

Tips and analysis via Betting Expert