Safety fears: slipping on stands' bend forces Doncaster to abandon Friday card

Friday's meeting at Doncaster was abandoned with two races still to run after Jouer Bresilien slipped on the bend going away from the stands in the 2m3f novice handicap hurdle.

The horse galloped off and jockey Aidan Coleman walked back in, but after an inspection following the race it was decided that the remaining chase and bumper would not be run.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan said: "No one wants to see horses slipping like that. It's continued to dry through the day and the consensus was it wasn't safe. The chase course is less problematic, but we decided we'd rather take the time to do what we need to do ahead of racing tomorrow."

"We believe we'll be able to water and aerate to make sure we are racing tomorrow."

Duncan added there were no plans to inspect ahead of Saturday's card, which is scheduled to start at 12.00.

Double boost for Capeland

The big winner on the day from the races that did take place was arguably Capeland, who, presumably, was 200-plus miles away in Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard. In his last two races, both at Wincanton, Capeland has beaten into second horses who both won on this card.

Peppay Le Pugh won the 2m handicap chase, then the feature 2m3f handicap chase went the way of Buster Thomas, for Emma Lavelle and the Axom ownership group.

Buster Thomas has history within the yard, being a half-brother to their stalwart chaser Shotgun Paddy. He has been shaping more promisingly than a chase record of one win from eight would imply, rather like his relative who has made a habit of finishing placed in good races.

Aidan Coleman, taking the ride for the first time, said: "That ground [good, good to firm in places] would have been quick enough for him, but he has a smashing attitude. I think he'll go up in trip in time." That's another family trait: Shotgun Paddy has won the Classic Chase and been second in the Eider and the National Hunt Chase.

Kirby's lucky day

Dubh Des Champs got off the mark in the 3m handicap hurdle and trainer Phil Kirby revealed afterwards there was a little serendipity in him ending up at the yard.

"He was an expensive three-year-old, he cost €52,000. That was too much for me, but he turned up at Ascot sales and I'd bought his sister so couldn't not bid for him at £1,500," said Kirby.

Dubh Des Champs won this race off a mark of 90 and seems unlikely to be a world-beater, but he has untapped potential for when the going gets tough as he was virtually the only one still going forward at the finish.

"The plan was to run him over fences after this off the same mark," said Kirby. "But I schooled him last week and he was only okay, well enough to think he'll take to it eventually, so we'll take our time. He'll be suited by more testing ground, too."

THE BUZZ

Chaser in disguise
If you did not know that first race winner Nadaitak was from a Shadwell family, you would never have guessed. He looks like he's come from the pointing field rather than Sir Michael Stoute's yard and owner Andrew Megson said: "Ben [Pauling, trainer] thinks he'll be a stayer in time."

Form boost
Neachell's Bridge was a late non-runner in the 2m3f novices' handicap hurdle, but his winning form from last time was further boosted by third-placed Almost Gold, who won a three-finisher race on the bridle.

Thought for the day
It is one thing to improve a horse's form, and Dan Skelton has already done that countless times in his still fairly young career, another to take its attitude up a level. Peppay Le Pugh still has his quirks, but his tendency to shirk a battle has been markedly diminished since he moved to Lodge Hill.

Results and Analysis