Doncaster 13th Dec 2025 bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle 14.40 UK Time:
The bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle over three miles and eighty-four yards at Doncaster on this good to soft ground promises a tactical affair on the straight track, where positioning early and a sound jumping rhythm will be crucial amid potential cutaways later in the afternoon.
With a small but select field of seasoned performers, the emphasis falls on those who have thrived in similar conditions and possess the class to handle a stiff Listed test, while any lurking fitness concerns from recent absences could prove costly.
Kateira, for Dan Skelton and Tristan Durrell, has been in cracking order this autumn, building on her second-place finish over course and distance here in January on good to soft when powering to a clear-cut listed victory at Wetherby three weeks ago over two miles on good ground, where she travelled with menace before quickening away.
That effort was followed by a respectable fourth in a Grade 2 at Ascot eleven days later over nineteen furlongs on good to soft, beaten under ten lengths after a minor mishap two out but shaping as if the run would do her the world of good.
She clearly relishes this surface from multiple successes, including that prior Doncaster effort, and her bold-jumping style allied to proven stamina at the trip marks her as ideally suited to these demands, arriving spot on for a yard hitting top note.
World Of Fortunes represents James William Kenny and Jordan Gainford, and she arrives on the crest of a fine spell, having quickened smartly to land a competitive handicap at Ballinrobe in September over two miles and four on soft, seeing off a subsequent winner by half a length.
She backed that up with a close second at Limerick six weeks ago over the same distance on good to yielding, rallying gamely after being headed on the turn, and brings excellent course credentials having won this very prize last March over course and distance on good to soft, where she asserted late in testing conditions.
Her record on give in the ground is exemplary, with four victories from ten attempts including that Doncaster success, and while a step up in class tests her resolution, her recent sharpness and track affinity suggest she is primed to give another bold showing.
Bethpage, prepared by Miss E C Lavelle with Ben Jones aboard, has been a model of consistency this term, capping a strong spring with back-to-back handicap triumphs at Wincanton and Stratford over three miles plus on good ground, both times staying on relentlessly to score snugly.
More to the point, she posted an eye-catching second in a listed mares’ event at Kempton three weeks ago over three miles on good to soft, closing from the rear to go down by just a length and a half despite meeting trouble in running.
All five of her career wins have come on good or good to firm, but that recent Kempton effort on this surface hints at further adaptability, and with solid experience in deeper waters, she shapes as one likely to relish the give without issue, though the stiff finish here may demand a touch more zip than she showed last time.
Lavida Adiva, from Ruth Jefferson’s stable and ridden by Brian Hughes, shaped with encouragement when fourth in a strong handicap at Market Rasen just over two weeks ago over nearly three miles on good to soft, staying on steadily from off the pace having been hampered three out.
That followed a similar third at the same track a month earlier over two and a half on good, where she travelled well before not quite finding her full acceleration late, and she brings smart staying form including a listed success at Kelso last March over two miles and five on good to soft.
Lightly raced for her age and with a penchant for cut in the ground from her Irish exploits, she looks to have the tools for this longer trip, arriving in rude health for a progressive yard, though her jumping can occasionally wander under pressure.
Molto Bene brings Charlie Longsdon and Lilly Pinchin into contention, and she has taken rapidly to fences with successive victories this autumn, most recently asserting with authority at Huntingdon three weeks ago over two miles and a half on good to soft, jumping boldly to score by four lengths unchallenged.
Prior to that, she had made a winning chase debut at Bangor in October over the same distance on good, quickening clear after the last, but this return to hurdles after a summer break raises questions given her prior modest efforts in handicaps last term, including pulled up and tailed-off runs on softish ground.
The good to soft should hold no fears based on that Huntingdon romp, and her evident fitness is a plus, yet the class hike and switch back to larger obstacles could catch her out against these battle-hardened sorts.
Simulation Results:
Kateira 61.8%, World Of Fortunes 19.2%, Lavida Adiva 11.5%, Bethpage 5.3%, Molto Bene 2.2%.
Equivalent fair fractional odds from these probabilities: Kateira 4/6, World Of Fortunes 21/5, Lavida Adiva 17/2, Bethpage 18/1, Molto Bene 45/1.
The best bet is Kateira, whose blend of course nous and recent Listed prowess positions her as the class act.
For two value selections, Kateira at 10/11 live surpasses her 4/6 fair price for compelling appeal, while World Of Fortunes at 5/2 underprices her 21/5 fair assessment in a match-up she has form to target.
No steamer bets qualify, as no contender among those with realistic chances has shortened by four or more points from the early racecard prices.
