Racing made an unscheduled return to Doncaster's Town Moor racecourse with a run of the mill midweek meeting. Urgent track maintenance needed at Sedgefield saw the meeting relocated to South Yorkshire and it would be Doncaster's gain with a seven race card that featured an interesting novice hurdle and qualifiers for the Go North racing series. 

The harsh early morning frost almost left the racing high and dry, but thankfully after a second inspection the course was deemed suitable for racing. All jockeys wore black armbands in respect of their fallen Irish colleague Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically passed away at the weekend following a fall and his funeral would be on this day. A stark reminder of the daily risk and danger jockeys step out into for a living.

Race One: The Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle - Class Four - Two Miles, Three Furlongs - Runners: 6

The opening contest of the afternoon would see an intriguing clash of previous winners and promising sorts do battle over this intermediate trip of two and a half miles. A small field would go to post, but it posed plenty of pointers for the future.

The card would be headed by the five year old Broderick for the Jennie Candlish stable, who have enjoyed one of the their best seasons so far. The gelding had improved with each start before getting off the mark in emphatic style at Newcastle last time, where he held a big advantage before hanging on. The first of the debutants in the field would be the flat recruit Banderas, now trained by Sam England. The five year old comes from a high quality family and won twice at a modest level, but showed plenty of stamina in the past. Nicky Henderson's yard are gearing up towards a big Cheltenham Festival, but in the mean time saddled Calimystic. The six year old has finished second on both starts to date and is related to a high class chaser. The second newcomer in the line up would be the Nick Kent-trained Kit The Christian. The gelding is bred for the National Hunt game, but this looked a fairly strong race to make his racecourse debut in. The small scale yard of Laura Horsfall would take on some big guns with Neptune House. The five year old is modestly bred and showed little in bumpers; now he would tackle hurdles for the first time. Completing the sextet would be the highly promising mare Queens Wish for the Dan Skelton team. The point-to-point winner made a very stylish winning debut over hurdles at Newcastle and had the potential to rank higher. 

Winner: CALIMYSTIC (#2) (Califet x Mystic Masie) - N. Henderson - J. Bowen 

As the flag raised to signal the start of the race, the horses lined up in a manner that gave plenty away in terms of tactics. The mare Queens Wish was strong in the betting market and lined up at the head of the pack. Just behind her came the main rival Calimystic and another small gap to the pair of Broderick and Banderas, while the order was completed by rank outsiders Kit The Christian and Neptune House bringing up the rear. 

The pace set by Harry Skelton onboard Queens Wish would be just a steady one and those behind her began to race keenly. 

Race Two: The Virgin Bet Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase - Class Four - Two Miles - Runners: 6
Next up would see a competitive looking handicap chase over the speedy test of two miles. The class four handicap would form a qualifier for the One Man division of the Go North series, which culminates in April. A field of six would go to post, but all involved would hold solid chances. 

The weights would be headed by Donald McCain's Hidalgo de L'Isle. The eight year old held his form well during the summer, including a wide margin win in August. However, he took an unlucky fall here over a longer trip last time and made his first start since December. The popular Ursa Major Racing would rely on their tough dual-purpose runner Glory And Honour. The nine year old has won on the flat and over hurdles in recent months, but made a rare start over the minimum trip here for Sam England. The oldest horse in the lineup would be Gallic Geordie for the Sam Drinkwater yard. The twelve year old was a progressive sort in his younger days, but still performs with credit despite his age. He unseated at the halfway point last time out at Wetherby. For the younger brigade, Dan Skelton would saddle God's Own Getaway. The seven year old showed consistent form earlier in the season, but following two below par runs, he has received wind surgery to seek improvement. The attractive grey Snowy Clouds was an improving chaser in 2023 for Nicky Richards, but missed the whole of 2024. The nine year old looked understandably rusty when pulling up on first start for a long time over course and distance in December. The tightly-packed field would be completed by Tommy Cullen, for the Matt Crawley stable. The former course winner finished second in consecutive renewals of a handicap chase here in December, but produced a poor run last time out at Huntingdon.

Winner: TOMMY CULLEN (#6) (Hillstar x Minnie Maguire) - M. Crawley - J. Quinlan

Race Three: The Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle - Class Five - Three Miles - Runners: 14

The focus would switch to the stayers for this handicap hurdle which would be a qualifier for the Brindisi Breeze division final of the Go North series. This class five contest would see a competitive looking line-up as well as the largest field of the afternoon with a healthy amount of sixteen runners taking the start.

Heading the weights would be the Nicky Richards-trained Coniston Clouds. The nine year old grey has won over hurdles and fences, but he has struggled for form in recent starts, pulling up on his last two appearances. One of the younger runners in the line up would be Alltalknoaction, who lined up for the father and son combination of jockey Will and trainer Tim Easterby. The five year old has finished in the frame twice, but was beaten a long way in the process. Another to have frustrated slightly considering his connections would be Jukebox Fury, trained by Nicky Henderson. Middleham Park Racing's five year old is stoutly bred, but has yet to show his best over hurdles but still had plenty of time in his favour. Mark Walford's Farmer Jimmy was brought along steadily and showed the benefit of moving into handicaps by winning at Wetherby a week ago. He would be successful on a step up trip, but took an even bigger rise in distance here. Glory Heights won on his first start since a short break in November and has continued to run well. The nine year old could only plug on at the same pace over three miles last time out. Nick Alexander would saddle the lightly raced Lucky Soldier, who has placed twice, but has yet to show race winning potential. The seven year old has managed midfield results in recent times. The ten year old Good Bye made his fiftieth career start here and the Sara Ender-trained veteran has performed with credit over the years. The quirky sort put in a better effort last time over this distance. The Neil Mulholland-trained Ca Plane Pour Moi would have leading claims based on some of his old Irish form, but the seven year old has yet to deliver in Britain so far. Remaining winless, he failed to justify strong market support at Uttoxeter last time out. Gill Boanas would saddle her twelve year old Off We Go in this contest and the gelding still retains the love for the game. The veteran placed over even longer trips last year, but has failed to shine in recent weeks. The seven year old Toucan Sam is bred to be very good on the flat, but finds himself at this level over hurdles. Now trained by Andrew Hamilton, the son of Frankel has finished placed six times so possesses some ability. The mare Lady Harriett lined up for the Peter and Michael Bowen stable and has shown good enough form at this distance to be a contender. The six year old was last victorious in November and ran well last time to finish fourth. Another mare in the field would be Richard Phillips-trained Lizzie Rey. The eight year old is lightly raced, but has been disappointing with no immediate promise shown so far. A second runner for the Borders-based stable of Nick Alexander would be the eleven year old So Ladylike. The mare has formed a good partnership with young rider Natasha Cookson and the pair won back in June. She would run well in defeat following a long break when fourth in January. The oldest horse of the afternoon would take his place in the line up. Mackie Dee has turned thirteen years old and has run well despite his ageing years for the Richard Armson stable. This would be a tougher ask however. The French-bred Iturgeon du Breuil represented the Barry Murtagh stable and would have claims on his two placings in early 2024, but the seven year old has pulled up on his last three starts. The line up would be completed by Skin Full, saddled by the shrewd David Pipe stable. The six year old has raced over much shorter distances, but connections have clearly spotted potential for better over this marathon trip. 

Winner: JUKEBOX FURY (#3) (Jukebox Jury x Dalamine) - N. Henderson - J. Bowen

Race Four: The Livescore Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase - Class Five - Three Miles, Two Furlongs - Runners: 10

The longest race of the afternoon would take place over a stamina sapping three and a quarter miles, but this Red Rum division qualifier saw a good field for this level. 

The nine year old Fairlawn Flyer would carry top weight for the Peter and Michael Bowen stable having won over a similar distance last season and finished fourth in the Borders National in December. The experienced eleven year old Super Citizen has high class form in his backlog, but remains a competent handicapper these days. Now trained by Lucinda Hughes, the gelding has finished in the placings in each of his last five starts. Fellow eleven year old Jessie Lightfoot had been in solid form this season for the Henry Oliver stable, placing twice. However, the mare was struggling when falling at Ludlow last time out. The lesser exposed runner in the field would be the six year old Touchwoodexpress for Nigel Twiston-Davies. The chestnut showed improvement for switching to staying chases and wasn't done with yet when falling last time out. Andrew Hamilton's C'est Quelqu'un isn't the force of old, but would have claims at his best. However the eight year old has failed to complete more often than not recently. The seven year old Dusautior has just the sole win to his name, but the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained chaser has run well since with a handful of placings. Twelve year old Unblinking has racked up the miles over the years and was once a smart hurdler. Now with the Robert Bevis yard, he has played bit part roles in similar contests recently. The David Killahena and Graeme McPherson-trained Getthepot showed a jolt of improvement to win unexpectedly two starts ago, but failed to back it up on latest start. The ten year old made his return to action for the first time since October following a wind operation. The family team of Sam and Jonathan England would combine in this race with Jamiesconn, a former point-to-point winner who took in three quick races over hurdles and now stepped massively in distance for his chasing and handicap debut. A second runner for the Greenall and Guerriero partnership would be the frustrating Streamsforth Lad, who had yet to build on his debut promise, but the seven year old hasn't spent long at his new stable so had time on his side. The field would be completed by Lady Pacifico for the Georgie Howell stable. The mare faced an uphill struggle running out of the weights and had just a few strands of form to stake her claim in this race. 

Winner: JAMESIECONN (#9) (Shirocco x Grandy Serenade) - S. England - J. England 

Race Five: The Livescore Bet Handicap Hurdle - Class Four - Two Miles, Three Furlongs - Runners: 9

The penultimate race of the afternoon would see a return to the smaller obstacles with this decent looking class four handicap, once again over two and a half miles.

The six year old Diamond Koda carried top weight for the Nick Kent stable and has been very unlucky to remain a maiden. The gelding has finished in the placings in all bar one of his nine starts to date, but has paid the price for his consistency with top weight. A potential improver in the field would be the lightly raced five year old Benmore, trained by Laura Morgan. He has shown plenty of promise with three placings in novice company and made the switch to handicaps here. The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero partnership would be represented by the eight year old Lune De La Mer. The gelding looked promising earlier in his career, but has gone through plenty of interruptions and suddenly has to prove himself. The Ewan Whillans-trained Scots Poet has won at a higher level in the past and has shown a liking for Musselburgh and Perth. The nine year old has a good strike rate and produced a good run two starts ago when third back at Musselburgh in January. Reforme has shown enough natural talent to win a race on a going day, but those have been few and far between. Now trained by Tom Gretton, the six year old appreciated the step up to this trip by keeping on into second last time out. Dan Skelton is methodical for bringing horses along slowly and that applied to the five year old Gwennie May Star. The gelding would gain a first career win at Newcastle recently, despite some wayward steering issues. Another five year old in the line up would be the David Dennis-trained Kally Des Bruyeres. He caused an almighty shock by winning two starts ago at 200-1, but his latest run suggested it could have been a fluke. Richard Hobson's six year old Maxiboy Dagrostis is nicely bred and placed twice in point-to-points, but has struggled for consistency over hurdles. His standout piece of form would be a third here behind a smart winner back in December. The field would be completed by the mare Imperial Jade, who has just the one win so far and has made a habit of finishing third. This season, she had hinted at going in again, but folded tamely on her most recent start. 

Winner: IMPERIAL JADE (#9) (Harzand x Maggi Rocks) - C. Longsdon - D. Bass

Race Six: The LiveScore Bet Handicap Chase - Class Five - Two Miles, Four Furlongs - Runners: 5

The sixth and final race of the afternoon's action would see another small yet competitive handicap field, this time over fences.

Top weight was given to the once useful Kap Auteuil, who has now surpassed his tenth birthday. Now trained by Toby Lawes, the gelding ran to a smart level a few years ago, but more recently has slipped back down the weights. This would be a first start since pulling up in October. Pilgrims King is a former course and distance winner in the past who went through a lull in form earlier in the season. Peter and Michael Bowen's nine year old was given a super "never say die" ride by Shane Fenelon to return to winning ways last time at Sedgefield. Another in form training partnership would be represented as Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson saddled their experienced eleven year old Valence d'Aumont. He would snap a losing streak last time out in very game style at Catterick a few weeks ago. The Sara Ender-trained Coolmoyne was in decent form at the start of the season, winning during the summer months but is more accustomed to staying trips. The nine year old posted a low key effort last time around Christmas and reverted to this intermediate trip. Bravethewaves made a quick return to action having raced at Musselburgh over the weekend. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's eight year old won for the first time on his penultimate start but needed to brush up on his jumping ability. The sextet would be completed by the Micky Hammond-trained Great Ballinboris. The nine year old remains lightly raced and has placed in the recent past, but failed to stay the three mile trip last time out at Wetherby. He would be tried in first time headgear as well. 

Winner: BRAVETHEWAVES (#5) (Gentlewave x Miss Lucky Penny) - O. Greenall & J. Guerriero