Doncaster Preview: Cloud can shine for red-hot Hobbs

Trainer Philip Hobbs has his team in flying form and Cloud Creeper looks weighted to give him another winner in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle at Doncaster today (3.20).

The Minehead based handler has been banging in winners left, right and centre in recent weeks and saddled an incredible six winners at Cheltenham’s prestigious three-day Open meeting.

In Cloud Creeper he has a horse with solid form to his name who is now taking a drop in class from what looks a very workable mark.

The gelding finished runner-up four times over hurdles prior to opening his account in good style at Southwell, and his run when beaten just a head by Junction Fourteen at Fontwell reads very well in the context of this contest.

The pair pulled 15 lengths clear of the third home, and the winner is a useful sort now rated 136.

That makes Cloud Creeper look well-treated off a mark of 120, and although the seven-year-old has failed to trouble the judge in three starts in handicaps they have all been class 3 contests.

The drop down into class 4 company is sure to see Cloud Creeper in a far better light, and the son of Cloudings should now be spot on to do himself justice after shaping as if badly needing the run on seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month when fifth of nine to Boondooma.

In the 2m 4 handicap chase (1.50), Saints And Sinners is very well-treated on the pick of his form and can take advantage notch a first success over the larger obstacles.

The Mick Easterby’s gelding was a dual winner over hurdles at Market Rasen in 2012, with his last success coming off a mark of 115.

The six-year-old went on to finish an excellent second at Doncaster last year off 120 and is now able to race off just 113 having often shaped better than the bare result in five starts since being sent chasing.

Saints And Sinner finished a decent second at Market Rasen off a rating of 115 when tenderly handled, and was still travelling strongly when coming to grief two from home at Wetherby on his penultimate outing.

The son of Gold Well was also far from disgraced when last seen in action and finishing fifth of 19 in a class 2 contest at Haydock, and looks the one they all have to beat now dropped back down into class 4 company off 2lb lower.

Selections:
12.50: Guiding George
1.20: Annalulu
1.50: Saints And Sinners (NB)
2.20: The Pirate’s Queen
2.50: Baile Anrai
3.20: Cloud Creeper (NAP)
3.50: Mardale