Blackjack Kentucky 'in great form' and will relish conditions says Nicholls

1.50 Doncaster
888Sport Handicap Hurdle | 3m½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/SKY

We really have to start with Blackjack Kentucky, who represents a yard which won this in 2013 with the heavily backed Aaim To Prosper. Like Blackjack Kentucky, he was also making his handicap debut.

On the face of it Blackjack Kentucky appears potentially well treated on 130, having beaten the 140-rated Walk In The Mill on his latest start.

However, from a ratings perspective, that form should probably be taken with a pinch of salt as the runner-up used the race as a ticking-over exercise before another crack at the Grand National, and his hurdles mark probably flatters him.

In fact, it is difficult to weigh up Blackjack Kentucky’s form and, although incongruous given he’s making his seventh start, he deserves the tag dark horse.

The weights are headed by a Grade 2 winner dropping back into handicap company, but although Shades Of Midnight deserves plenty of respect, the potential sticking point is he has yet to win on his reappearance, and this belated return may be used as a prep for a bigger target down the line in the hope the ground dries (both of last season’s wins were on a decent surface).

Coded Message, the other dropping in class after decent performances in Grade 2 and Listed races, returns to handicaps off what is likely to prove a prohibitive 15lb higher mark than when winning a mares’ contest in this sphere in December.

Remastered, Point Of Principle, Liosduin Bhearna and Sakhee’s City, who were nibbled in the betting after the markets opened on the race yesterday, have yet to prove they need to go this far, while Bryden Boy, winner of the contest in 2017, is surely vulnerable to improvers.

Paul Nicholls: trains Blackjack KentuckyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

That brings us to Geordie B, who has been progressive in five starts over hurdles.

He’s presumably had an issue as this is his first start since November, when he stayed on for fourth at Newbury on ground faster than ideal, but he impressed after a break at Exeter last season and these are his conditions.
Race analysis by Pietro Innocenzi

Key stat

Conditional Charlie Price has a 60 per cent strike-rate (3-5, +14.50) at Doncaster this season and tries to improve that record on Point Of Principle.

What they say

Venetia Williams, trainer of Geordie B
He got jarred up at Newbury and it's his first run since. We're limited with choices and he's a horse for chasing next season.

David Pipe, trainer of Remastered
He ran well at Chepstow and then disappointed at Sandown last time. He's in good form and we've taken the hood off him. If he can bounce back to his Chepstow form he'd have a good chance.

Phil Kirby, trainer of Sakhee's City
The wetter the better for him. He's a difficult horse to win with, but when he puts it all together he's very good. His does all his best work on the bridle and if a race falls apart in front he loves it, but if it doesn't he finds it hard to quicken.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Blackjack Kentucky
He’s in great form and the more it rains the better for him. Very soft ground suits him very well.

Alan O'Keeffe, assistant trainer of Bryden Boy
He's off a low weight and has a good claimer on board [Danny McMenamin]. Any rain will help and he stays well, and hopefully he might run into a place.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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