Skip to content

Racecards

15:00 Doncaster

32Red Hurdle (Listed) (Class 1)

  • 4 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £18,000 added
  • Winner: £10,251
  • 2nd: £3,847
  • 3rd: £1,926
  • 4th: £959
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 2.10s
  • Off Time: 15:02:36
  • 4 Ran
1
Silk - Dark blue, white chevron, white and dark blue striped sleeves
5/1
  • Form 2312-14
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-9
  • Official Rating 155

led, headed 3 out, in 3rd and one pace when left 2nd at last, kept on

2
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap

Darlan

40 D
Evs
  • Form 11F21-1
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-9
  • Official Rating 166

tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged when going well before last, upsides when fell last

3
Silk - Dark Green, White cross belts, Light Green sleeves, Dark Green and White hooped cap
13/8
  • Form 3/1213-3
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-9
  • Official Rating 170

tracked leader, challenged before 3 out, led 3 out, pressed when left clear last, kept on

4
Silk - Green, yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, hooped cap
  • Form 4403-04
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-1
  • Official Rating 147

always in rear, never dangerous

In depth

Verdict

ROCK ON RUBY wasn't quite right when only third to Zarkandar and Grandouet in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in December. Harry Fry has expressed himself satisfied with the champion's progress since and he can lay down a marker for Cheltenham with victory here. Darlan is the obvious danger as he was very impressive when landing the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day with Fighting Fifth winner Countrywide Flame back in fourth. He could well have more to offer and John Quinn's gelding will find it tough to turn the tables. Clerk's Choice was sixth in the Champion Hurdle in 2011 but has never reproduced that form and, even in receipt of 8lb from the others, may struggle to make an impact today.

Formwatch

Countrywide Flame 6-4fav (11-7) Tracked leading pair, led narrowly after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression when lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 9l behind Darlan (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec.

Darlan 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway after 3 out, led next, quickened clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec beating Raya Star (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.

Rock On Ruby (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Close up in 3rd, disputed lead before 3rd, led briefly 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, soon ridden, 3rd and one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Zarkandar (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.

Clerk's Choice (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon went 4th, one pace, 4th of 14, 11l behind Fair Trade (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.