Progress can be made at Doncaster
Progressive can live up to her name by doubling her tally and staying unbeaten over jumps in the Sky Bet Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster tomorrow.
Nicky Henderson’s fouryear-old returns to the scene of her impressive hurdling debut,havingwonwithauthority over course and distance.
Progressive,previouslyuseful in a brief Flat career which yielded one victory in four attempts for Roger Varian last summerandautumn,encountered heavy ground as well as hurdles for the first time last month. She handled the former well, and jumped proficiently too when necessary – although that requirement was limited, because three flights in the home straight were omitted.
There was nonetheless enough initial evidence to suggest she could be well up to this Listed level, and clearly forecast soft conditions are no detriment to her chances.
Ibleoisanotherwhoarrives on Town Moor with a recent victory under his belt, and he willbehardtostopdespitetopweightintheSkyBetBestOdds Guaranteed Handicap Chase.
Venetia Williams has seen fittoentertheeight-year-oldin boththeQueenMotherChampion Chase and Ryanair Chase attheCheltenhamFestival,following his success in a decent Sandownhandicapearlyinthe new year.
Ibleo took a while to gather hiswinningmomentumthere, but was well on top at the line and appears to be a strongstaying two-miler who may well benefit from a step up in trip at some point.
This race appears tailormade, however, at a galloping course which will allow him to get involved from off the pace up the long home straight.
Testing conditions suit him too, and his form this season has a rock-solid look to it, because he gave big improvers Sky Pirate and Amoola Gold a race as an admirable runneruponeachoccasionbeforeseeing off several good yardsticks last time.
Sam Barton is another of interest earlier on the card, in theSportingLifeEBF“National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.
EmmaLavelle’ssix-year-old isbackfromashortbreakhere, having lost a shoe at Hereford in November when a beaten favourite in second behind a shock but subsequent winner.
He had another previous winner behind him in third, having begun his hurdling career by finishing fifth at Chepstow behind the highlypromising Grade Two scorer Star Gate. Sam Barton has the credentials to win a maiden hurdle with ease. Fleur Irlandaise is on the hat-trick trail in the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton.