Great Yorkshire Chase Day Tips

Doncaster stages one of its principal jumps meetings of the season on Saturday, the Great Yorkshire Chase, a Premier Handicap over 3m, the highlight of a quality seven-race card which also features Listed and Grade 2 action.

12:20 - Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle (Listed, 2m)

There’s a bit of guesswork required here, but the form that Nicky Henderson’s Manlaga showed when winning at Auteuil has taken some knocks and she looks worth taking on with HIGHLAND CRYSTAL.The daughter of Crystal Ocean has won both starts convincingly, including in this Grade at Newbury in November. Gordon Elliott won this in 2024 with the progressive Wodhooh.

Selection: Highland Crystal

12:55 Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m 1/2f)

Rebecca Curtis’s PRICE OF PEACE has a bright future ahead of him, ultimately over fences, but he’s got a nice hurdle prize in him this season based on what he’s shown at both Ffos Las and Chepstow. The form of his Ffos Las second is working out extremely well, the fourth-placed Klimt Madrik going on to finish second in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last month.

Selection: Price Of Peace

13:30 - Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m 1/2f)

Irish raiders dominate the betting for this mares’ only event, including Jessica Harrington’s JETARA, who holds strong claims of following up last year’s success. The eight-year-old showed a game attitude to edge out Dan Skelton’s Kateira here 12 months ago and ran a string of good races afterwards, finishing in the frame at the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals. She didn’t fire at Leopardstown over Christmas, but looks more than capable of bouncing back and should be hard to beat.

Selection: Jetara

14:05 - Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase (Premier Handicap, 3m)

Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson have enjoyed plenty of Saturday primetime success this season, including with GRAND GESTE, who is taken to supplement last month’s Tommy Whittle Chase victory. The seven-year-old has been hit with a 10lb rise for his decisive all-the-way Haydock win, but he’s only had three starts over fences and is unexposed at this distance.

Selection: Grand Geste

14:38 - Tony And Karen's Engagement Party Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3m)

NEWTON TORNADO has had a rather mixed campaign, but he looked good when winning at Bangor in November and had valid excuses for his last-time-out defeat. The seven-year-old, who ran to a Racing Post Rating of 131 at Bangor, was pulled up at Newbury at the end of last month, having lost his action when making a notable mistake down the back. He likely just knocked himself and could well bounce back off a potentially lenient official mark of 127.

Selection: Newton Tornado

15:13 - Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Chase (2m 1/2f)

It’s hard to say MIGHTY BANDIT represents much in the way of value at his likely short price, but he’s fully deserving of his position at the head of the market, having accounted for a pair of subsequent winners when scoring on just his second chase outing at Newbury last month. He’s only 5lb higher and should have more to come.

Selection: Mighty Bandit

15:48 - Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m 1/2f)

There’s very little to go on in this concluding bumper and the market may prove the best guide. However, the booking of Brian Hughes for Ian Williams’ debutant COUNTRY PURSUITS takes the eye. The three-time Champion Jockey has partnered eight winners from 47 rides for the trainer overall and is 3-15 for him since 2021.

Selection: Country Pursuits