Timeform 1-2-3 
/ Mark Powell-Bevan / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Hopefully, Grands Crus will be visiting the Cheltenham winners' enclosure again
"Grands Crus was value for plenty more than the winning margin (over a couple of subsequent winners) when romping home by ten lengths at Haydock in November."
Two winning selections on Friday have piled the pressure on and, whilst the cards at Cheltenham and Doncaster today are highly competitive (if they get the go-ahead), there's no point shying away....
Lingfield mightn't stage the best of today's racing in terms of quality, but there are a couple of interesting handicaps, including the 13:25 where Buaiteoir can follow up a recent C&D win. Paul d'Arcy has had the gelding for only a handful of starts, but if things had gone slightly differently Buaiteoir could be coming into this on the back of a hat-trick, twice runner-up after left a lot to do prior to his Lingfield success. The way he quickened up off a modest pace last time was impressive, sweeping from last to beat Ocean Legend three quarters of a length and having much more in hand, which suggest he'll be able to defy the 5 lb rise.
The River Don at Doncaster (14:45) looks an informative renewal, with a number of promising novices stepping up in trip. None, however, are more interesting than Donald McCain's Lively Baron, who arrives on the back of a hat-trick. Admittedly, he's yet to achieve as much as some of his rivals, but in both of his wins over hurdles so far he has shaped as if he's going to relish stepping up to 3m, under pressure sooner than the placed pair at Ayr last time but having more to give at the finish. A sound jumper, Lively Baron has an excellent attitude to go with it and looks overpriced at [6.8].
We here at Timeform were so taken with Grands Crus when he followed up his Cheltenham handicap win under a penalty at Haydock that we were compelled to tip him as the ante-post alternative to Big Buck's in the World Hurdle. The Cleeve Hurdle (15:35) is very much the acid test for him, however, as he takes his first step into Graded company, and only a win will do. Bensalem and Organisateur actually have higher adjusted Timeform ratings on the card, but Grands Crus was value for plenty more than the winning margin (over a couple of subsequent winners) when romping home by ten lengths at Haydock in November and is still far from exposed, with just five starts over hurdles under his belt, though not to say he doesn't have the requisite experience of the hustle and bustle, his two big wins coming in even bigger fields than today's.
Recommendations
Back Buaiteoir @ [2.8] Lingfield 13:25
Back Lively Baron @ [6.8] Doncaster 14:45
Back Grands Crus @ [3.6] Cheltenham 15:35
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Nick's backing an improving horse to do the business at Cheltenham today in his win and place special bet, will you follow?...
Racecourse: Doncaster First Race Time: 12:40 Going: Good, Good to Firm in places Other Information: SECOND INSPECTION AT 9:30. -3ºC overnight, -2ºC at 6.30am, top temperature today 2-3ºC. The whole course was covered after the last race yesterday....
Racecourse: Lingfield Park First Race Time: 12:50 Going: Standard...
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