National Hunt racing takes centre stage at Doncaster Racecourse on Thursday, where a seven-race card across hurdles and steeplechases will make up the Doncaster Race Cards 5 February. With novice contests and handicaps on offer, and prize money ranging from £6,150 to £11,000, the meeting promises competitive action throughout the afternoon.
The meeting will open at 12:40pm and run through to 4:10pm, with races covering distances from just over two miles to three miles, ensuring both speed and stamina will come into play on the Town Moor circuit.
The opening contest at 12:40pm, a Class 5 Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle over 3m 152y, will bring together ten runners competing for £6,150. New Invention, partnered by Tristan Durrell, will line up alongside You Did with Charlie Maggs, Castanea Breeze under Freddie Gordon, and Fox Cottage ridden by Daniel Sansom in what will be an early stamina test.
At 1:15pm, the Class 4 Junior National Hunt Hurdle over 2m 174y will offer £11,000 in prize money and attract nine runners. Milou du Chenet, ridden by Brian Hughes, will be among the expected contenders along with Mustang du Breuil partnered by James Bowen, Cotton Socks under Ciaran Gethings, and Duc de Rohan with Tristan Durrell booked to ride.
The 1:50pm Maiden Hurdle, another Class 4 event over the same distance, will feature a competitive field of twelve runners chasing the £10,000 purse. Count of Vendome with Brian Hughes, Different Drum partnered by Jamie Hamilton, Luckie Devil under Callum Bewley, and Made All ridden by Jonathan England will form part of the anticipated line-up.
A smaller but competitive six-runner field will contest the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle at 2:25pm over 2m 3f 134y, where £10,700 will be on offer. Storming George, partnered by Jack Quinlan, will meet rivals including I’m A Lumberjack with Tom Bellamy, Geromino under Charlie Maggs, and Bluegrass ridden by Charlie Hammond.
Chasing action will follow at 3:00pm in the Class 4 Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase over three miles, with five runners competing for £8,900. Mumford’s Magic with Tristan Durrell, Kalhandrion under Charlie Maggs, Kadjar des Mottes partnered by Theo Gillard, and Flemenstide with Callum Bewley will headline the contest.
The 3:35pm Class 4 Handicap Steeple Chase over 2m 4f 121y will see eight runners line up for another £8,900 prize. Gentleman Bill, partnered by Craig Nichol, Busty Boy under Callum Bewley, The Winslow Boy with Ben Poste, and William of York ridden by Ross Chapman will feature among the expected runners.
The meeting will conclude at 4:10pm with the Class 4 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over 2m 3f 134y, offering £7,700 in prize money. Lets Go To Vegas with Ciaran Gethings, October Hill partnered by Rian Corcoran, Scavengers Reign under Alex Chadwick, and Pure Seduction ridden by Ben Sutton will be among six runners closing the card.
Across the afternoon, the fixture will combine developing novice talent with established handicappers, making the Doncaster programme an important midweek stage in the National Hunt season.
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