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16:45 Doncaster

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Apprentice Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 22.04s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Natchez Trace¹⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Zak Wheatley| T: D Carroll| OR: 71

33/1

Resumed winning ways from the front at Southwell (12f) last June and similar form when placed at Chester (12.3f) a month later. Efforts proved mixed tried at up to 2m on turf/AW thereafter and whilst the handicapper has given him a chance, this run may bring him on.

Form: 387700-

(9)

At Liberty^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: S D Bowen| T: M Appleby| OR: 70| BF| D

6/1

3-time winner on turf for Michael Bell who opened account for present yard at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 3 weeks ago. Produced another solid display when runner-up back at that venue (9.5f) 2 weeks ago and worth considering back on turf with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 326162

(2)

Moonlit Cloud³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Ethan Jones⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 69| D

4/1

Returned with a respectable fifth at Kempton (11f) in January and seemed unsuited by the steady gallop when running below that level back at that venue 31 days ago. Conditions will hold no fears back on turf though and he comes here on a workable mark.

Form: 2205-58

(1)

Vellner^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Archie Young⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 69| D

16/1

10f maiden winner in Ireland as a 3-y-o for P. Twomey. Low-key start for present yard since the autumn but he did at least finish closer than previously when 4 lengths fifth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (1m) 17 days ago. Still, others preferred. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 3700-95

(12)

Powerful Response¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: William Pyle| T: G A Harker| OR: 68

14/1

Improved to land back-to-back handicaps at Newcastle/Hamilton last summer and made the frame next 3 starts at 1m. Possible he's not most straightforward but excuses on final start at Pontefract in October. Reappears for new yard now and the market may prove a useful guide.

Form: 112420-

(11)

Bustaam¹²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 65

7/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who fared better than previously when fourth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (12.5f) in November. Not seen to best effect at that venue later that month and suspicion he has an even bigger effort in his locker and one to note back on turf from career-low mark.

Form: 4/35048-

(3)

Awtaad Prince^h,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ryan Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 64| D

9/2

Winless last year but fallen plenty in the weights and capitalised (in first-time hood) when seeing off 8 rivals at Chelmsford (10f) in February. Creditable third at Lingfield (12f) since and he's still unexposed at this sort of trip. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 580-813

(6)

Mrs Meader¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Sam Feilden⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 63| D

9/1

3-time winner during 2022. Mark suffered as a result but largely consistent without tasting success last term, creditable fourth at Windsor (11.5f) in October. Never threatened at Newcastle final start but conditions will hold no fears on return and the assessor is relinquishing his grip.

Form: 335240-

(10)

Franco Grasso⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Pinna⁽⁷⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 62

20/1

Both career victories to date have come at Yarmouth but comes here having ran with credit in finishing midfield in handicaps at Southwell/Wolverhampton this winter. However, still has to prove his effectiveness on ground this testing.

Form: 10605-5

(7)

City Escape^b,e/s⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽³⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 60| D

14/1

Back-to-back winner of heavy ground handicaps at Ffos Las (10f) late last summer and ran creditably next 3 starts returned to AW. Hasn't figured in pair of starts at Wolverhampton in recent weeks but fallen back down to last winning mark and conditions will hold no fears.

Form: 1347-58

(8)

Distinction^v³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Alec Voikhansky| T: J Mackie| OR: 56

14/1

Twice successful on AW this winter, the latest at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in January. Some way below that level in 2 subsequent outings and whilst he's proven on this sort of ground, he does need to step up to feature.

Form: 14-5197

(4)

Fifty Sent⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁷⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 53| D

13/2

Just the one win from 21 Flat runs (gained on AW) but proven with plenty of give underfoot and quickly dispelled a lesser effort (in first-time cheekpieces) when third of 7 in handicap at Newcastle (1m) in January. This trip within range and each-way possibilities.

Form: 9803-83

Forecasts

Moonlit Cloud (4/1), Awtaad Prince (9/2), At Liberty (6/1), Fifty Sent (13/2), Bustaam (7/1), Mrs Meader (9/1), Powerful Response (14/1), Distinction (14/1), City Escape (14/1), Vellner (16/1), Franco Grasso (20/1), Natchez Trace (33/1)

David O'Meara has his string in good order and it could be worth chancing his 4-y-o BUSTAAM. He shaped with definite encouragement on his penultimate start at Newcastle in November and, with his subsequent run at that venue best overlooked, he's of interest back on turf from a career-low mark. At Liberty arrives fit and in-form from the all-weather and he's a player in refitted cheekpieces. Moonlit Cloud and Mrs Meader complete the shortlist.