2:30 Doncaster Tips

I fancy Kings Threshold to defy top weight. The form of his Mandarin Newbury win at the end of December is working out, and Emma Lavelle's 9yo is flexible regarding going.

Progressive individual last season who hasn't got his head in front yet this term but was a very solid 2nd in the Great Yorkshire Chase here last month. The extra quarter of a mile will be right up his street this afternoon, so he should run very well.

Loves it here and recently underwent wind surgery, so will hopefully have found a new lease of life after a terrible run last time out.

Neil Mulholland brings three horses up to Doncaster for this race, and Broomfields Cave could provide the best value. He has been lightly raced, with only five runs since October 2023, and switched to chasing for his last four runs. This former pointer has won two chases and was 2nd and 3rd in the other two.

The 8-year-old has five wins over fences. Two respectable runs in quality company this winter should set him up nicely for this handicap chase. He has a lower rating now, and he won a stronger-looking handicap last winter off this mark. Four weeks later he went very close off a 6 lb higher mark. He will be fresh after an eleven-week break and is weighted to be in the mix.

It will be a big horse racing slap in the face if New Order wins, but I don’t see how the weight swing with Dartmoor Pirate will prove big enough to tie the tables there. So a look elsewhere, and Jubilant stepping up in class for the in-form James Owen looked of interest at the prices. He lugged a big weight to victory last time to take his record in races over this sort of trip to 15/11. He’s had a fair break since, but a 5 lb rise for his last win could underestimate him if he takes enough of a step forward. Up to a tougher level he gets a kinder weight to carry, at a track where his trainer is 3/3 placed over fences in the last five years. Gethings aboard is something new. He’s been going well over the larger obstacles this season, being 12/67 in handicap chases, and 8% higher win rate than his 5-year percentage.

This race looks like a bit of a lottery, and Lord Accord is probably not given the respect he deserves in the market, as he is 11 years old. I think he has a very good profile for this race, and he is in good form. The biggest worry is whether he will be ready after a break.

This horse has won this race twice in the past. He looks to have been prepped for this race again and represents good each-way value in an open-looking race.