Yesterday’s Review
0.5pt e/way Fire Eyes (94) – There didn’t appear to be much pace on early doors with the likely front-runners racing off the pace which would not have suited the selection. Two of the first four home raced in the first quartet throughout. The favourite Bowood (100) cared not for the pace and swept by the field approaching the final furlong coming home three and a quarter lengths to the good. He had some decent timefigures in the past but had struggled to get his head in front regularly on the sand. However, connections have him in fine form at the minute and he won as he liked.
Today’s Advice
LIR SPECIALE/IT JUST TAKES TIME (7f Hcap) – The (11.37) Doncaster looks a competitive contest on ground advertised as Heavy. The former selection won well last time out on similar ground over course and distance from another of today’s rivals Shazani while recording a (105) timefigure. A reproduction of that effort should see him go close again this morning.
Form on today’s going looks thin on the ground but the latter selection is one that does appear to be inconvenienced by a deep surface. He won this race last year from the same handicap mark, and while the Brian Ellison trained runner’s recent effort comes out better on my going allowances it would be unwise not to have a saver on this genuine galloper.
TRUST AMY (6f Nursery) – The (2.00) Doncaster looks a decent little contest to get involved with as there is very little form on today’s surface to go on. The selection is one of the few that has winning form on a similar surface and while she may have only come fifth in her latest Listed contest over course and distance that performance holds the top timefigure of (105) on my calculations.
The handicapper was equally impressed and has bumped her up seven pounds in the ratings. She had previously won nicely on a declining surface at Chester and that race has also thrown a couple of other winners since in Callahan and Fizzy Cristal. She looks a good few points above where she should be in the market providing she can reproduce her latest effort two weeks later.
FINE INTERVIEW/LORD BERTIE (6f Hcap) – Wathnan Racing look to have a great chance of landing the (2.35) Doncaster with three strong contenders for today’s prize. The choice of first rider James Doyle is the William Haggas trained runner Realign who heads the market and he won nicely recently at Haydock on a Good to Soft (Good in places) surface from Wild Clary by a length and a half. He is a lightly raced type and there may be more to come but with no form on today’s going and at the prices I was happy to look elsewhere.
The former selection won very well over course and distance last time out on a similar surface and his (111) timefigure tops the charts for today’s contest. A reproduction of that effort would see him very difficult to beat from a handicap mark of just 95 considering it reads well with past Listed class course and distance winners such as Dakota Gold and Royal Commando. He raced in midfield on that occasion and kept finding more when asked despite hanging left in the closing stages. Connections of Korker may fancy their chances of reversing form on 5lb better terms but I will be sticking with the winner on this occasion.
The latter selection looks a tricky character to catch right as he wears a hood, but it all came together delightfully for him last time out over course and distance on a soft (heavy in places) surface. He recorded a career best (109) timefigure on that occasion and while racing keenly from the rear he tanked into the race before leaving his rivals behind near the finish. He looks like he can’t have the ground heavy enough and also looks a few points too big for my liking considering he gets to race off a 12lb lighter weight although this is a step up in class.
ATHERSTONE WARRIOR/MISS DOLLY ROCKER (11f 197y Hcap) – The (3.45) Doncaster looks another competitive renewal of the Virgin Bet November Handicap and the former selection holds one of the top positions on the timefigure charts for me with his latest win over ten furlongs on a soft surface at Newbury. He raced in touch with the leaders that day before taking up the running two furlongs out and coming home a length and a quarter too good for his rivals. The step up in trip should be right up his street considering his dam Hollow Green was a multiple middle distance winner.
The handicapper has raised him nine pounds for that performance and connections have offset most of that with the booking of five pound apprentice Ashley Lewis. He has ridden ten winners since September and looks decent value for his claim for the Gary and Josh Moore stable. There looks to be plenty more to come and he looks to hold an excellent chance at the bottom of the weights for today’s contest.
The latter selection has recently moved to trainer Faye Bramley from the Kublers and she looks a real soft ground specialist. She hasn’t had the opportunity to race many times on a real deep surface but she recorded a pretty unbelievable (117) timefigure at Bath two runs back on heavy going under the welter burden of 9st 12lbs when getting the better of Azahara Palace. The race hasn’t yielded any winners yet which does temper enthusiasm and Bath form may be best left at Bath going forward but I can’t resist a small interest at the prices on ground she should love.
1pt e/way Lir Speciale (6/1 Labrokes, William Hill, Coral 5 places) 11.37 Doncaster
0.5pt e/way It Just Takes Time (17/2 Ladbrokes, Coral, 8/1 general 5 places) 11.37 Doncaster
1pt e/way Trust Amy (16/1 general) 2.00 Doncaster
1pt e/way Fine Interview (11/2 general 5 places) 2.35 Doncaster
0.5pt e/way Lord Bertie (10/1 general 5 places) 2.35 Doncaster
1pt e/way Atherstone Warrior (7/1 general 5 places) 3.45 Doncaster (Powers going 6 places for those who can get on there)
0.5pt e/way Miss Dolly Rocker (40/1 general 5 places) 3.45 Doncaster (as above)