River Don' Novice Hurdle

2.45 Doncaster

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The River Don Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus) 
Winner £14,252

Pick: Join Together (win)

Buck Mulligan: Made hay winning two small field chases after switching yards last year and bolted up on return to hurdles at Wincantion; Worth the step up in class. 

Court In Suprise: Created good impression when winning at Hereford on his hurdles debut and maybe not best judged on his Newbury fourth, as he'd have wanted a step up in trip; Has it here and quietly fancied.

Lively Baron: Unbeaten in three starts since his debut, having won a pair of 2 & a half mile Novice Hurdles; Needs to improve on bare form but rates better than that anyway and bred to live the step up in trip.


Iron Chancellor: Improved on his debut form when getting nosed out by inches by State Benefit at Ffos Las; Should improve again for that and not discounted.

Join Together: Let down by lack of experience when third to Court In Motion on hurdling bow at Exeter and bettered that form in defeat when second to Mossley in Grade 2 at Cheltenham; Has every chance of going one better. 

Rose Of The Moon: Made a hugely promising hurdling debut at Cheltenham, staying on past plenty of very useful horses and nearly catching very smart prospect in Bobs Worth; Every chance here.

Super Villain: Showed useful form when placed 3 times in bumpers, and similar start over hurdles; Has a lot to do to really get involved. 

Miss Overdrive: Solid and reliable choice having run well in handicaps the last thrice; Vulnerable to less exposed size. 

VERDICT: A useful race with plenty of good types. Rose Of The Moon made a great start to life over hurdles last time out at Cheltenham and will be many choice to go one better, but JOIN TOGETHER looks sure to win a race sooner rather than later and is taken to beat a useful field here.