Paddy Power has an incredible new customer offer in place on Saturday that provides £60 IN FREE BETS when bettors stake £10 on Doncaster’s opening race (1:45pm). We’ve produced an in-depth preview of the qualifying race, alongside must-view bets for the remaining races!
BET £10 ON RACE 1 AT DONCASTER SATURDAY, GET £60 IN FREE BETS
VIRGIN BET HANDICAP HURDLE – (1:45pm Doncaster, Saturday March 5th)
Doncaster’s opening race on their prestigious Grimthorpe Chase Day comes in the form of an extended 2m handicap hurdle, which sees a field of 10 runners set to go to post.
The market is currently headed by the topweight Byzantine Empire, who has proven admirably consistent this season, going in over course and distance on penultimate start.
He was not at that level at Cheltenham subsequently, yet this represents a drop-in class from that assignment, so he should be respected, for all that the form of his course victory has received a number of knocks since, and genuinely soft ground would be an unknown.
Green Planet held a mid 70s rating on the flat so could be well-treated in this sphere off an opening mark of 103, albeit he does need to find a decent chunk of improvement on what he’s shown over obstacles thus far.
The 7yo Universal Folly is one of just two runners on the card for Cumbria-based Nicky Richards and his claimer removes a valuable 10lb, but 2m might prove on the sharp side nowadays and hasn’t got the most convincing profile (1-14).
Preference goes to MONGOL EMPEROR, who was twice a winner over hurdles last season and had some classy novice form to his name prior behind the likes of Dusart and Soaring Glory.
Neil Mulholland’s charge was back from nearly a year off when fourth at Fontwell last month. That run is entitled to have blown off any cobwebs and it’s interesting that connections now enlist the services of Sam Twiston-Davies, who was aboard for the first of the 7yos victories last year.
At 17/2, he looks the value play in a modest enough opener.
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NAP ON THE CARD
The best bet on the Doncaster card comes in their 2:55pm where THE BIG BITE looks too big to ignore.
This 9yo son of Scorpion loves it here at Doncaster, with his form figures reading 122.
Delving a bit deeper into that form, it is seen that The Big Bite has bumped into a pair of classy Venetia Williams rivals the last twice who are now rated 8lb and 7lb higher respectively.
A mark of 144 still looks workable on that form and The Big Bite came good around this time last year. His yard is slowly coming to hand after a slow season, and this looks like an opportune chance to gain a seventh career win.
BACK MONGOL EMPEROR HERE AND GET £60 IN FREE BETS FOR THE REMAINING DONCASTER RACES
OUTSIDER ON THE CARD
The following Grimthorpe Handicap Chase is the feature on Doncaster’s Saturday card and the outsider of the field, LEGENDS GOLD looks well worth a play at the prices.
This mare made a highly promising seasonal reappearance when third at Bangor in November, behind rivals now officially rated 11lb and 8lb higher. She is herself 2lb lower, despite running well in Listed company in the interim, and 3m2f on soft ground looks about her optimum conditions.
It is best to put a line through Legends Gold’s recent failure to finish at Wincanton, which reportedly came too soon (10 days) after a creditable Ludlow run, and connections have understandably given her a break since.
If that has freshened Legends Gold up sufficiently then her current price of 16/1 looks simply too big to ignore.
BET £10 ON RACE 1 AT DONCASTER SATURDAY, GET £60 IN FREE BETS
New Customer Offer. Place a single £10 (or £5 e/w) bet on the 13:45 race at Doncaster, Saturday 5th of March. Get a £10 free bet for each of the remaining race on the card (£60 in total). Only deposits with Cards apply (Apple pay deposits are excluded). T&C apply.