Horse Racing Tips: John McConnell can make successful raid at Doncaster

Jumps racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Sunday with five meetings taking place across the afternoon. First off is the sole Flat card on the all-weather at Southwell, before they go at Doncaster, Limerick, Leopardstown and Kelso.

Amongst my Sunday Horse Racing Tips is one for trainer John McConnell who comes with risks attached but is running off a tempting mark.

11:52 Doncaster - Belfrina @ 11/10

The opening juvenile fillies' maiden hurdle at Doncaster over the extended 2m is a good-looking contest, but David Pipe's BELFRINA can come out on top in the hands of Jack Tudor.

A daughter of Zoffany, she had two runs on the Flat in Ireland when trained by John O'Donoghue. Eighth on her debut in a good 6f maiden at the Curragh, she relished the step up to 1m2f next time when landing a 33-1 surprise at the same venue in September.

Belfrina made her hurdling and stable debut when runner-up behind Melon over course and distance earlier this month. A terrible mistake from Melon at the last gave her a chance late on, but she wasn't good enough on the day.

Nonetheless, the pair pulled well clear of the remaining runners and, although the winner failed to do the form much good in a Grade 2 at Chepstow on Friday, Belfrina should improve enough to win this.

13:02 Doncaster - Monty Bodkin @ 9/2

We have yet to see the very best of MONTY BODKIN, but the son of Walk In The Park can show what he's made of in the 2m3f novices' hurdle for the in-form O'Neill team.

Purchased for €105k (£87k) in 2022, he is out of a Grade 1-winning mare and he only found the now 134-rated Celtic Dino too strong on his debut at Ascot in November 2023.

Monty Bodkin opened his account in a bumper at this venue on his final start for Ben Pauling and it looked like something was amiss when he faded out of things late on at Carlisle last month on his first run for his new yard.

He has had a wind operation since then and now sports a first-time tongue-tie, so a much better run can be expected.

14:12 Doncaster - Bodhisattva @ 10/1

The final bet of the day comes with risks attached, but we're going to take a chance on John McConnell's BODHISATTVA in the 3m handicap chase.

The seven-year-old hasn't won since landing a three-runner handicap chase at Perth on his final start for Gordon Elliott in May 2023, having been largely disappointing since then.

However, he's now 2lb below his last winning mark and he showed glimmers of promise in recent times, notably when third in the Ulster National in April.

Callum Pritchard takes a further 7lb off his back which can only be a help.

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