Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'If the favourite doesn't show up, she could go and win this'

Ben Jones has four rides at Doncaster on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• Uptown Dandy - Doncaster - 11.55 race odds

• Betty's Tiara - Doncaster - 1.30 race odds

• Bethpage - Doncaster - 2.40 race odds

• Lanesborough - Doncaster - 3.17 race odds

11.55 - Doncaster - Uptown Dandy

I'm off to Doncaster on Saturday where I've got four rides, starting with Uptown Dandy for Ben Pauling, in the novices' hurdle. I finished second on him in a bumper at the start of the year, and that seems to be a position he likes; he's got a few seconds next to his name already! He ran well first time out over hurdles last time, finishing second behind Get On George at Wetherby. He's always one that will try his hardest, and there's only four runners in this - albeit a couple of them look really nice. But if he can run like he did at Wetherby, then I'd like to think he'll play his part in this one and put a few others under pressure. 

1.30 - Doncaster - Betty's Tiara

Then I've got Betty's Tiara in the handicap hurdle, and I really like this mare. She tries her heart out, and stepping up to three miles here will definitely suit her. She jumps really well and will definitely run her race at big enough odds... but I wouldn't be surprised to see her feature in the paddock, that's for sure. Hopefully she'll have a good chance.

2.40 - Doncaster - Bethpage

My third ride is a mare called Bethpage for Emma Lavelle in the mares' listed three-mile hurdle. Again, she's one that always turns up and runs well - she did well to finish second in a listed race at Kempton a couple of weeks ago, and wasn't beaten by all that much. This looks like an open enough race if you take the favourite, Kateira, out. Hopefully she'll play her part, and if the favourite doesn't show up, I wouldn't be surprised to see her actually go and win this. She'll have a good chance, that's for sure. 

3.17 - Doncaster - Lanesborough

My last ride is in the last race of the day, where I've got a horse called Lanesborough in the handicap hurdle. I like him a lot and think he's very well handicapped... this is his first run back but he's looked great at home and I schooled him on Thursday morning - he looked sharp and well. If he can turn up as the horse that we think he is, then he'll be hard to beat. I'm going here thinking he's probably my best chance of leaving with a winner.

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