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
