As the majority of focus was aimed at Cheltenham's Trials meeting some 145 miles away, Doncaster held its own race meeting which could have the potential to unleash some Festival clues of its own. The Sky Bet-backed raceday featured pattern class racing in all disciplines including the feature race, the Sky Bet Handicap Chase. Better known to traditionalists as the Great Yorkshire Chase, the three mile handicap is a valuable prize and is often used as a prep run for the big handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree's spring festivals, even a potential tilt at the Grand National.
Early entries for the Grade Three handicap looked strong, with connections eager to make up for lost time caused by recent weather related abandonments.
Elsewhere on a card full of star names, a trio of Grade Two races whetted the appetite of racegoers in the form of the Lightning Novices' Chase and Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle and River Don Novices' Hurdle. A cloudy but thankfully milder day assured conditions were just right for a brilliant day of national hunt racing around the country. 

Please note that due to time constraints, I was unable to cover race one of the meeting. 

Race Two
The Happy 60th Birthday Neil Young Handicap Hurdle (Division Two) (Class Four) (2 miles, 3 furlongs)
Winner: Give Me A Cuddle (Court Cave x Social Society) (#5)

A competitive handicap hurdle over the intermediate distance of two miles and four furlongs kicked off proceedings on Town Moor. Run as part of the "Go North Cab On Target Series", the race is a qualifier for the series finals held later in the season. 

Just seven runners lined up for this tight handicap, as the race was split into two divisions at declaration stage on Thursday. The quality made up for quantity with plenty of smart horses at this level taking part. The lightly raced Gilbertina arrived on the back of a win last time out and posed a threat with her low weight. Previous course and distance winner Big Bad Bear and the last time out placed pair of Keepyourdreamsbig and Trevada made it a tricky puzzle for punters to solve.
As soon as the tapes were released to signal the start of the race, Gilbertina attempted to make all the running under Brian Hughes. Racing at a generous pace with the chasing pack closely grouped together, the race was open to all possibilities. The patiently ridden Give Me A Cuddle entered the home straight in last, but soon picked off his rivals under Nico de Boinville. As Norley led into the final hurdle, he had challengers from all sides; Give Me A Cuddle, Vintage Fizz and Gilbertina all leaving the ground in contention. It would be the Neil King-trained Give Me A Cuddle who came out on top, finishing best of all to beat Vintage Fizz, Norley and Gilbertina. 

Race Three:
The MND Association Race For Research Lightning Novices' Chase (Grade Two) (2 miles, half a furlong)
Winner: Tommy's Oscar (Oscar x Gilbin) (#5)

A classy novice chase with twelve fences over a distance of two miles, the action was always going to be fast and furious. Field sizes on average have been small, but the Lightning Novices' Chase has seen its fair share of leading chasers take this prize during their career. No other past winner has been more high profile than than the brilliant Shishkin who was spectacular in the 2021 renewal, run behind closed doors due to lockdown. Further back in the roll of honour includes the very popular hurdler and chaser Sceau Royal who won this in 2018 and leading star of the early 1990's Deep Sensation landed the 1992 running before winning the following year's Champion Chase.
The class of 2023 saw just five runners line up, but some high class names were on the register. Smart hurdler Boothill had stepped up to another level over larger obstacles, winning the Wayward Lad Novice Chase at Kempton over Christmas. There were still dangers in the field with plenty of quality. The popular Tommy's Oscar lined up, the pride of Ann Hamilton's small stable enjoyed a rapidly progressive and memorable 2021/22 season. 
The leading protagonists came to the fore right from the word go as Boothill, Tommy's Oscar, Since Day One and Ganapathi all cut out the early running in the two mile charge. The leading quartet served up a generous pace and as they all took each other on, the threat of a pace burnout loomed large. Approaching the second last fence, Tommy's Oscar took over the outright lead as Boothill gave chase. Tracking the pace in rear, Cormier began to sneak closer into contention but met the final fence all wrong, unseating his rider. That would leave Tommy's Oscar to bound clear on the run-in with ears pricked to land another Grade Two event. A superbly brave and tough little horse, he has proudly waved the flag for his trainer Ann Hamilton, based in the Scottish Borders. In a sport often dominated by powerful stables, the exploits of Tommy's Oscar really show the romance side of the sport.

Race Four:
The Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (Grade Two) (2 miles, half a furlong)
Winner: Epatante (No Risk At All x Kadjara) (#1)

A prestigious and valuable contest in terms of racing careers and broodmare careers, the Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle has seen a plethora of talent in its short history. From the first inception in 2008, many high class and popular mares have collected this race including Lady Buttons, who won this race twice in 2019 and 2020. The best winner of this race in terms of quality was undoubtedly Annie Power, who visited South Yorkshire in 2014 and won by a huge margin; extending her unbeaten record to ten wins at the time. She would go on to provide Cheltenham memories for the next few years, most significantly winning the Champion Hurdle in 2016. 
2023's running was full of quality once again with the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante seeking her first win of the season having chasedthe shadow of her illustrious stablemate Constitution Hill twice this season. Intended to run at Haydock the previous weekend before the weather put paid to that meeting, she faced a good opportunity on Town Moor. The presence of such a quality mare threatened her rivals, but the entry of popular grey mare Martello Sky gave the race a competitive twist. The Lucy Wadham inmate had gone down with all guns blazing at Wetherby back in October and returned to the minimum trip which was hoped to be more suitable. 
Six runners took the start and from the early stages, Galice Malaco set a respectable pace for the grade. Little change in the order occurred throughout the race but approaching the second last, things began to heat up. The Jane Williams-trained Galice Malaco still held a narrow lead and a major shock still looked possible, but on her inside, Epatante arrived on the scene; travelling very powerfully. Nico de Boinville remained motionless in the saddle as his star mare effortlessly moved past her rivals and into a clear lead. A safe jump at the last hurdle settled the race and she landed a deserved first win of the season. A visually spectacular victory and one which will set Epatante up for a return to the Cheltenham Festival in either the Champion Hurdle or the Mares' Hurdle. 

Race Five:
The Albert Bartlett River Don Novice Hurdle (Grade Two) (Three miles, half a furlong)
Winner: Maximilian (Alderflug x Maxima) (#5)

A three mile test of speed and stamina on this flat racecourse has seen some very classy individuals take this prize over the years and the River Don Novices' Hurdle looked set to be another significant trial for Aintree and Cheltenham. In the very first running back in 1991, popular Yorkshire-trained horse Cab On Target won this race as part of a sparkling early career over jumps. In 2006, the future Gold Cup placed and Grand National winner Neptune Collonges can call himself best winner of the Grade Two event. Last year's running was won by Mahler Mission with this year's leading novice chaser The Real Whacker chasing him home. 
This year's race created a conundrum for connections as a race of similar stature and distance was run at Cheltenham on the same afternoon. Would trainers look for course experience at Cheltenham in regards of the festival or would they prefer the valuable prize on offer at Doncaster? Amongst the twelve declarations saw the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Idalko Bihoue, third in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury on New Year's Eve. Owners Group's Maximillian had looked a fine prospect for the future and looked set to be suited by the longer trip here. Wide margin debut winners Stay Away Fay and Twig made the race a fascinating event on paper.
In the early stages of the race, the keen going The Wounded Knee held a clear lead and jumped well in the main. The chasing group were closely packed and fanned out across the track. Leading contenders Stay Away Fay, Idalko Bihoue and Maximilian were all held up at the rear. Entering the closing stages of the contest, Hurricane Bay took over the lead with challengers on all sides. Stay Away Fay looked set to justify favouritism for punters but in the dying strides, Maximilian found extra reserves of stamina to land the prize on a memorable day for the Owners Group syndicate. It was part of a cross card treble on the day with two winners at Cheltenham.

Race Six:
The Sky Bet Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Grade Three) (3 miles)
Winner:  Cooper's Cross (Getaway x Rocella) (#11)

The Great Yorkshire Chase was often a big race of the season with a rich list of past winners including previous Grand National winner in the shape of Nicolaus Silver and subsequent Gold Cup winner in the form of Bregawn. In 2023, the feature race of the day looked set to be a cracking renewal.  
The long-time antepost favourite for the race Into Overdrive was a notable absentee from the lineup after a setback leading into the race. Another premier handicap chase winner this season lead the entries as the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase winner Ga Law was a strong contender for trainer Jamie Snowden. The eleven-strong lineup featured plenty of well known faces including the the likes of last season's Grimthorpe Chase winner Undersupervision, former Hennessey Gold Cup winner Cloth Cap, lightly raced winning machine Tea For Free, and progressive  Cooper's Cross adding quality and interest to the field. 
Tea For Free set off into an early lead under star apprentice rider Lilly Pinchin and jumped well in the opening stages. The Jamie Snowden-trained gelding had been a revelation since switching to fences, winning all four of his starts over the larger obstacles. The race would see a dramatic climax and the complexion of the race would change numerous times. Heading to the second last fence, Tea For Free took a heavy fall when still in the lead as Cooper's Cross travelled sweetly into contention under Sam Coltherd. The well fancied Ga Law was left in contention, but he too suffered a nasty looking fall, accompanied by a large gasp from the crowd. It would leave the Scottish raider Cooper's Cross to stay on best of all and take the £100,000 prize. The son of Getaway had been quietly progressing well in the northern circuit and the father-son combination of trainer Stuart and jockey Sam Coltherd always held this horse in high regard. A tilt at a Grand National in the future wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility. Finishing placed in the race for the third time in a row, Cap Du Nord chased home the winner in another game display in a big handicap. Thankfully, both Ga Law and Tea For Free were able to get up after their falls and were led back to the stables. A check up on both of them saw no injuries, although Lilly Pinchin suffered a fractured shoulder. 

Race Seven: 
The Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase (Class Four) (3 miles)
Winner: Taste The Fear (Mores Wells x No Complaints But) (#4)

Another qualifier for the "Go North Series", this time it was a handicap chase in the "Red Rum" division. 
Raced over the same distance as the feature chase, three miles, there was a similar sized field too with a competitive turnout for the class four handicap. 
There was plenty of pace early on with the presence of many front runners. The early stages were largely undramatic with the runners keeping their cards close to their chest. Rounding the bend into the home straight on the final circuit, there was an eventful change of events as Hold The Note fell at the twelfth while Top Decision and Eyeofthescorpion both fell independently at the next fence. The early leaders Great d'Ange and The Late Legend began to backpedal as the main contenders came to the fore. The multiple winner Tim Pat played his hand at the second last fence and began to assert into the lead. Hot on his heels came the consistent Taste The Fear who wore his rival down with each stride. In the best finish of the day, Taste The Fear hit the line just in time as he stole the win away from Tim Pat under jockey Sam Twiston-Davies. Trained by "the good doctor" Richard Newland, Taste The Fear had finished third over a longer distance at Doncaster on his previous start. He found this shorter trip much to his liking and gained another career win. 

Race Eight: 
The Good Luck Beep Beep Burrow National Hunt Flat Race (Class Five) (2 miles, half a furlong)
Winner: Dino Bellagio (Doyen x Savingforvegas) (#7)

A National Hunt flat race rounded out the day at Doncaster with plenty of intriguing entries featuring recruits from the point to point scene and well bred newcomers.
As the race title suggested, plenty of interest was invested into the racecourse debut of Beep Beep Burrow. The Jedd O'Keeffe trained chestnut held intrigue for many people in and out of sport as all proceeds would be raised for the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation in honour of rugby league legend Rob Burrow, fighting so bravely against the illness and being an inspiration to millions of people. 

Alongside the horse of the moment, there were fourteen rivals to overcome on the track. The only previous winner in the field, the gelding Dino Bellagio looked a smart prospect when winning here at a previous meeting but plenty of dangers lurked at every corner such as Go West for the Owners Group. Runner up on his debut under rules, he was expected to be popular again. Bombay Sunset looked to be an interesting recruit for Lucy Wadham under jockey Nico de Boinville. 
As many flocked to the parade ring to catch a glimpse of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow, the horse bearing the race title strode out onto the track. Beep Beep Burrow would finish a promising fifth, staying on from an uncompromising position to suggest he is capable of winning races. Further ahead, the main contenders came to the fore again. Go West made most of the running under Lorcan Williams and looked to have the measure of his rivals as he kicked on up a gear. In hot pursuit came the Donald McCain-trained Dino Bellagio and that one found the best turn of pace to leave Go West standing before winning by an impressive eight lengths. It would cap off a fine meeting for owners Nick Brown racing after the syndicate landed the previous day's feature race with Greyval. 
Both the winner and runner-up look to be smart prospects for the future and could be a force to be reckoned with once they see a hurdle.