Tag: Doncaster

Doncaster Tuesday Preview

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The racing this week is a bit of an anti-climax after three days of top quality action from Cheltenham but I’ve picked out a couple of horses from Doncaster on Tuesday.

The first is an unraced novice hurdler called Annalulu who makes her debut for Highclere Racing and new trainer Paul Nicholls at 1.20. She is a daughter of Hurricane Run out of a mare by Loup Solitaire and was a pretty useful performer on the flat in France.

She won on her fourth start in a modest three-runner event over a mile and three-quarters and went on to win a very competitive handicap over the same distance at Deauville in July. She was due to run on Monday at Leicester but was taken out because of the heavy ground and should find conditions more suitable at Town Moor.

They don’t look a great bunch in opposition on Tuesday with Witch From Rome the pick on form after three placed efforts. The Tim Easterby pair were moderate on the flat but Dan Skelton’s Boss Des Mottes could be a threat. He is another French import but he will have to be useful to concede 7lbs to Annalulu.

My second bet of the day is Shadows Lengthen in the handicap chase at 2.50. If you’ve seen footage of this one’s victory at Wetherby last month you will be very tempted by Paddy Power offering 6-1 in their early price list. He is up 8lbs for a seven-length win over Off The Ground, although he could have doubled the winning margin if he’d been ridden out.

That was an impressive performance after a prep run in a handicap hurdle at the same course two weeks’ earlier. Brian Harding took up the running with three to jump and had his rivals in deep trouble from that point on. He was carrying 11st 11lb and only has an extra pound on his back tomorrow.

It’s quite a competitive event with the consistent Violets Bay running for Harry Redknapp and Crazy Jack making his chasing bow after a good run over hurdles. Uriah Heep won on his first start over fences for Alan King while Robbie is another with each-way claims after a good run at Musselburgh. I just liked the way Shadows Lengthen travelled and jumped at Wetherby and expect him to start a lot shorter than 6-1.

Annalulu 1.20 Doncaster @6-5 Betfair

Shadows Lengthen 2.50 Doncaster @6-1 Paddy Power

November Handicap Preview

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The flat turf season finally comes to a close on Saturday with the November Handicap at Doncaster.

My record in this race was not great up until last year when William Haggas won it with Conduct (8-1). I wonder what ever happened to that horse? Saturday’s race looks the usual minefield of criss-crossing form lines with the possible exception of Luca Cumani’s Mount Logan.

I remember tipping this one last year in a two-year-old maiden and thinking that he looked like a stayer in the making. I was surprised when Cumani ran him in a Group 3 as a two-year-old but it did show that he must have thought something of him. He has been steady rather than spectacular this season, winning a couple of decent handicaps. He saved his best for his most recent outing when winning here in September. The handicapper has put him up 7lbs but he has the in-form Andrea Atzeni in the saddle and has avoided being drawn in the car park.

This race can be a real slog if conditions get really testing. The forecast is not that great for Thursday and Friday so we could see soft ground at the weekend. That would count against Peter Chapple-Hyam’s 40-1 Newmarket winner Farquhar who seems better on faster ground.

One piece of form that grabs my attention here is the victory of Latenightrequest at Haydock in September. Because Richard Fahey’s horse has gone on to win again here since, he faces a very stiff task at the weights with those that he beat at Haydock.

Alan Swinbank’s Dark Ruler is 15lbs better off for two lengths while runner-up Headline News and fourth-placed Kings Bayonet enjoy a similar weight pull. Headline News has since won at Newmarket while Dark Ruler won at Pontefract despite getting into traffic problems. The latter also has the advantage of having won on both of his previous visits here. If you fancy Dark Ruler it is impossible not to fancy Headline News too as he is 12lbs better off for a short-head.

Old Town Boy looked all out to win a competitive event at York last time and may be anchored by his 6lbs penalty. Rhombus was favourite for this a year ago and disappointed and never looked likely to stay the Cesarewitch distance. Communicator is having his third crack at this prize having finished runner-up in 2012 and fifth last year. He will probably run well again but is drawn 22.

Mount Logan @10-1 William Hill

Dark Ruler @22-1 Betfair

Headline News @16-1 Totesport

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Doncaster Saturday Preview

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It is Racing Post Trophy day at Doncaster on Saturday with Elm Park bidding to underline his claims for next season’s Derby.

The race, formerly known as the Futurity Stakes, has been a great guide to the classics over the years. The history of the race is littered with names like Reference Point, Authorized, Motivator, High Chaparral and Camelot. The last two on that list were trained by Aidan O’Brien who also saddled St Nicholas Abbey to win this race. He is represented by Jacobean and Aloft, neither of who appear to have sufficient form to win this.

Jacobean ran on to take second on his debut while Aloft won narrowly at Newmarket. Andrew Balding’s Elm Park has 9lbs in hand on official figures following his win in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes. Things did not go entirely smoothly that day as he was bumped leaving the stalls and looked in trouble two furlongs out. Perhaps the ground was a little quick for him and he has already shown that he can handle the soft when powering home at Newbury. Having tipped him at Salisbury and Newmarket, I cannot desert him here.

The going was very testing on Friday with some two-year-olds stopping to almost a walk in the early maiden races. Andrew Balding could also be on target in the sprint with our old friend Dungannon. He helped us out at Ascot last time when winning by a short-head in similar ground and he bids to win this race for the second year in succession.

He is only 1lb higher in the ratings and my main concern is his low draw. The runners may favour the stands side if the going becomes too testing and that would leave Dungannon on wrong side.

More favourably drawn is South African import Counter Ridge, trained by Marco Botti. She almost belied of odds of 66-1 when runner-up here last month and is a bit of an unknown quantity if you’re looking for a lively outsider.

I will also be looking for some each-way value in the 2.10 race. Portamento won an egg-and-spoon race last time and looks vulnerable. Nothing went right for Manofmanytalents last time out at York and he did well to finish as close as he did behind Mattmu. However, I am not entirely convinced that he will like this ground and will side with easy Nottingham winner Code Red.

Knife Point has solid form in the mile and a quarter handicap for Hugo Palmer. He finished fourth to shock winner Farquhar at Newmarket but it is anybody’s guess whether he will handle the ground. That won’t be a concern for Emerahldz who has won on heavy at Beverley for Richard Fahey.

Code Red 2.10 @11-1 BetVictor

Emerahldz 2.40 @8-1 Ladbrokes

Dungannon 3.15 @8-1 Ladbrokes

Elm Park 3.50 @15-8 Bet365

Doncaster Saturday Preview

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There’s an old saying that winter comes in on the tail of the last horse in the St Leger. That will be good news for fans of jump racing with the season’s final classic due off at 3.50 at Doncaster tomorrow.

The race has a wide open look about this year with a 14-strong field and all sorts of form lines tying them together. Not that it makes finding the winner any easier! The distance is a complete unknown for many of the runners including the favourite Kingston Hill. He has only raced once since the Derby when fourth in the Eclipse and I have reservations about his ability to see out the trip.

The two that interest me from an each-way perspective are Forever Now and Windshear. Both have exhibited a willingness to keep battling way under pressure and should relish the final two furlongs. Windshear looked unlucky behind Snow Sky at Goodwood while Forever Now is closely matched with Alex My Boy and Kings Fete on March Stakes form. They should both give us a good run for our money.

The card opens with the Champagne Stakes and people have been getting very excited about Estidhkaar with a view to next season’s classics. We will know more after he takes on the smart Belardo tomorrow who impressed me when strolling home at Newbury last time. Admittedly Hawkesbury ran with a most peculiar head carriage in second but Belardo looks to have a touch of class and is worth supporting at around 3-1.

Muthmir was a ridiculous price for the Stewards’ Cup and seems to be one of those horses that attracts money every time he races. The trip seems spot on for him in the Portland and it could be worth taking the early 11-2 but I’m also going for Mick Channon’s Chilworth Icon at long odds. He fairly flew up the rail to win at Sandown and the yard have hit form in recent days.

Finally, my old friend Aljamaaheer gets to revert to a more sensible trip in the OLBG Stakes at 3.15. I was very surprised when it was announced that he would be campaigned over six furlongs this season but I suppose he has proved a point with a third in the Diamond Jubilee. He wore blinkers that day but they have now been removed and the going seems to be drying out nicely. That could just give him the edge over old rival Gregorian.

Belardo @3-1 BetVictor

Muthmir @11-2 Boylesports

Chilworth Icon @20-1 Betfair (each-way)

Aljamaaheer @7-4 William Hill

Forever Now @16-1 Bet365

Windshear@8-1 Ladbrokes (each-way)

Doncaster Friday Preview

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Favourites were wiped out at Doncaster on Thursday but Blue Waltz (7-2) clawed back some of our outlay.

Friday’s card features the Doncaster Cup with Her Majesty The Queen’s Estimate bidding to get back to winning ways after a good second last time out at York. The former Ascot Gold Cup winner appeared to suffer from the dreaded “Bounce factor” at Goodwood on her previous start when she ran a lifeless race. She went straight to Ascot this year without a prep race and ran her heart out in second place. If she is in the same kind of form on Friday she will be difficult to beat.

She is a very short price and I prefer to side with Times Up who is seeking a third consecutive win in this race. Ed Dunlop has shown that he is a master at preparing these older horses for the big day with the likes of Red Cadeaux. Times Up was behind Estimate at York but that run may have been needed to bring him to his peak.

The card opens with the Flying Childers Stakes over five furlongs. Moonraker looked unlucky last time out when just pipped after a troubled passage. Mick Channon had a winner on Thursday and Moonraker looks worth an each-way bet under Ryan Moore but Cotai Glory has even stronger claims. He had his rivals in trouble a long way out at Goodwood and will presumably try to burn them off from the start again here.

Adventure Seeker ran a fine race at York and looks worth a bet against his elders in the Mallard Handicap. Most of the opposition is fully exposed with the exception of Cumani’s Sir Walter Scott. He could improve on his Ebor effort but Adventure Seeker looks a safer bet.

Muraaqaba looks a worthy favourite for the May Hill Stakes after her game win at Newmarket. The further she went, the better she went that day. Her biggest danger is likely to be the Irish raider Agnes Stewart who finished ahead of subsequent winner Raydara last time out. Whatever the fate of Sir Walter Scott, Cumani should add to Thursday’s double with White Lake at 4.25. He was a 25-1 shot on his debut at York but outstayed the opposition in great style, despite racing wide throughout. He looks like a decent colt but will have to be to see off the likes of Nafaqa and Toolcoolforschool.

Cotai Glory 1.40 @11-2 BetVictor

Moonraker 1.40 @9-1 BetVictor (each-way)

Adventure Seeker 2.10 @5-1 Stan James

Times Up 2.40 @4-1 William Hill

Muraaqaba 3.15 @13-8 Paddy Power

White Lake 4.25 @13-8 Paddy Power

Doncaster Thursday Preview

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The feature race on the second day of the Doncaster St Leger meeting is the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at 2.40.

There aren’t many races in the calendar for fillies over the St Leger trip and if ever a horse was crying out for this distance it must surely be Arabian Comet. She has run on determinedly in her last three races, winning at Ascot before coming agonisingly close at Goodwood and York. The daughter of Dubawi looks certain to be in the frame, especially with several of her market rivals being out of form.

Venus De Milo ran no sort of race at York last time and cannot be supported with any confidence while Seal Of Approval really needs more rain if she is to take her chance. Criteria and Silk Sari are decent fillies but I fancy Arabian Comet to gain a deserved Group 2 success.

This could be a huge day for her trainer, William Haggas. He starts with the well-fancied Gregoria in the nursery at 1.40. She raced keenly in front last time before finishing third and has to reverse the form with Mick Channon’s Persun. I believe she can do that but a bigger threat may be Secret Spirit who meets Feeling Easy on a stone better terms for a narrow defeat at Newbury earlier in the season.

Haggas then saddles Token Of Love in the Sceptre Stakes and she is clearly going the right way. I’m not sure how she managed to get beaten in handicaps at Newbury and Sandown but she was a good winner at Haydock in Listed company last time. J Wonder did us a favour when wining under a superb ride from Jimmy Fortune at Goodwood but the one to be on here could be Sir Michael Stoute’s Bragging who destroyed a big field of handicappers at York.

The next Haggas runner is Heartbreak Hero in the £300,000 sales race at 3.15. I am not sure that he has the pace for this race. The Great War represents Aidan O’Brien on a relatively quiet day for Ballydoyle and he should also go well in a wide open race.

Haggas is still not done as he saddles Ascot winner Mange All (3.45) and Flippant (4.25). I think both have definite chances but I am going to oppose them with John Gosden’s Long Cross and Luca Cumani’s Blue Waltz. Both are coming here after winning maiden races but have the potential to go on to better things.

Gregoria 1.40 @15-2 Paddy Power

Secret Spirit 1.40 @18-1 BetVictor (each-way)

Bragging 2.10 @11-4 William Hill

Arabian Comet 2.40 @4-1 Bet365

The Great War 3.15 @7-1 William Hill

Long Cross 3.45 @3-1 Bet365

Blue Waltz 4.25 @3-1 Bet365