The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
RACING:MISTERDONINLINEFORCAPITALVENTUREAFTERDONCASTERTRIUMPH
Rose Dobbin has the Edinburgh National as a possible early target in 2018 for Mister Don after the seven-year-old ended a luckless spell in the footballacca.tips ‘Confined’ Handicap Chase at Doncaster.
Mister Don had been second five times and third three times in 11 starts since winning at the South Yorkshire track 13 months ago, and it was a return to Town Moor that saw a change in his fortunes.
Trainer Rose Dobbin used Mister Don’s blank spell to pinpoint this three-and-a quarter mile race and it paid off as the 11-2 shot outstayed Alvarado by four-and-ahalf lengths under Craig Nicol.
“I’m chuffed. We spotted the race a while ago and it’s quite nice when a plan comes off,” said the Alnwick handler.
“He’s been very consistent but he’d had a bit of seconditis.
“It was a perfect race for him because it was for horses that hadn’t won since last November, so we’re very happy.
“He wants decent ground as he’s by Presenting and he needs a long-distance race.
“It’s got to be a stiff, three-mile plus race for him. Having said that, he’s run well round Market Rasen and Musselburgh.
“There’s a four-mile chase at Musselburgh in February. We’ll have a look at that.
“He loves Doncaster and he jumped great today. He’s a fine horse to have.”
● Trainer Dan Skelton’s Value At Risk (5-1) got back on track yesterday with his first victory for 14 months in the grandnational.fans Handicap Hurdle.