Architect Tips has three tips covering the ITV races for Christmas Jumper Raceday at Doncaster.
14:05 Doncaster
Although his stamina for this trip remains unknown, I’m going to nominate STRAW FAN JACK each way, who finds himself only a pound higher than when third in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year.
Sheila Lewis’s charge has been competing in much stronger events than this for well over two years now and should strip fitter from his comeback run in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup, which was evidently needed.
Most of his form in the last twelve months has come in graded company, so he will find this easier, and he’s nicely treated at the weights. If he can get into a rhythm and prove that he stays, then he should be able to outrun his odds.
14:05 Doncaster
My main play in the bet365 Handicap Chase is GABORIOT, who has excelled himself in the last twelve months by winning five of his last eight starts and could add this pot to his impressive strike rate.
He shaped very well when keeping on well to finish third on his seasonal reappearance in the Grand Sefton last time out, and the handicapper has reacted delicately by only putting him up a pound, which seems more than fair.
This improving staying chaser gets into this contest on a really low weight, and there’s surely more to come this season. In a race that is littered with exposed types, he should be bang there at the finish.
15:15 Doncaster
Having split a pair of next-time-out winners when runner-up at Cheltenham on his penultimate start, NORMAN FLETCHER resumed winning ways at Huntingdon last month and is fancied to go in again here.
Deemed good enough to contest last year’s Betfair Hurdle, in which he finished midfield, this five-year-old now has three wins in this sphere and is only up 6lb for his win last time out. He gets the nod in an interesting race.
