Today’s action at Doncaster takes us one step closer to the
St Leger tomorrow but it’s a top class
card in its own right with plenty of action for all racing fans alike, with two
quality 2 year old contests, a major handicap, and a feature staying contest
that features the Ascot Gold Cup winner.
Colour Vision got one of the rides of the season from
Frankie Dettori to edge out Saddlers Rock (left) on that occasion but the score has
since been levelled with the latter’s victory in the Goodwood Cup and with the
weights still favouring the John Oxx trained inmate, he’s worth backing to
atone for his disappointment at York in the Lonsdale Cup today and retain his Yorkshire
Cup title (2.20). Having announced his arrival on the big time staying scene
with a stunning win in this last year, John Oxx’s stayer has since gone onto
bigger and better things, mostly his third in the Ascot Gold Cup where the
ground and pace of the race conspired against him from early on, something that
Johnny Murtagh fixed with a strong and clever front running ride in the
Doncaster Cup last time out. He disappointed badly when only beating two home
in the Lonsdale Cup last time but the faster conditions today – York was
reportedly tacky and as a funny track, it can bring out the worst in some
horses – should see him improve a lot on that effort and if back to his best,
he has to be the one to beat today. High Jinx and Times Up will both be ever
present dangers, while Colour Vision has to be respected, but at the weights
and on his best form, Saddlers Rock looks worth keeping the faith with, especially
with the ground having dried out overnight significantly enough for the surface
to be just called ‘good’ from good to
soft, soft in places earlier.
Sir Prancelot is another horse who should enjoy the good
ground today (or at least has had his prospects bettered by the rain staying
away) and can give Richard Hannon a third win in the Flying Childers Stakes
(1.15) since 2005. Ante post favourite for the Coventry – which has worked out
as one of the best races seen this season - he lost no caste in fourth after a fairly rough
trip at Ascot and has since come second and fourth behind the best Juvenile
seen this season according to some in Reckless Abandon. Dropping back to 5
furlongs for the first time since his hugely impressive win in the National
Stakes at Doncaster, he holds an excellent form chance for a trainer that has
an excellent record at this meeting, having also saddled three winners on this
day since 2007. Hoyam, Fire Eyes and Sound Of Guns should all go well but ready
preference is for Richard Hannon’s colt.
Both of them may be usurped as the star of the day by
Godolphin’s Certify (seen left), who bids to give the boys in blue a third successive win
on the bounce in the May Hill (2.25). An impressive winner of her debut at the July
meeting, she was even more taking when announcing herself as a possible Group 1
winner in waiting when she ran out a convincing winner of the Sweet Solera, a
race which has provided three recent winners of this. Easily behind her was the
subsequent Moyglare winner Sky Lantern and today’s rival Reyaddah – who might
be each way value, as one expect better from her if she has matured inbetween
races (she was keen at Newmarket), while she failed to get a clear run last
time out – which is easily the strongest form in the race, and with Ollie Olga –
the only other horse to have beaten Sky Lantern this season – now out of the
race, it look to be hers for the taking.
A good word should be put in for the very promising Go Angelica, who hasn’t
gotten a clear run since winner her maiden tidily here, while she should thrive
for a stronger gallop here than she got last time out when winning at
Sailsbury, but she’ll have to go some to beat Certify.
Advice
1 pt win Sir Prancealot, 1.15 Doncaster (11/4 general)
1 pt win Saddlers Rock, 2.20 Doncaster (3/1 general)
2 pts win Certify, 2.55 Doncaster (5/6 Bet365)
No comments:
Post a Comment