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20:25 Doncaster On paper what looks a tough days racing with some small fields and short favourites. It seems ridiculous that we have three flagship meetings on a Thursday when Sunday racing suffers. How and ever. Three pick from the last hour of racing, the first from Donny. Eight are declared for this mile and two contest. If the eight turn up this race has some good each way value but the dreaded non runner comes into play.Eyes are immediately drawn to Sikandar. The former Aga Khan runner for Mick Halford in Ireland has been purchased for 40,000 gns by Brian Ellison and Mrs Martin. The Medician colt makes his handicap debut after a promising run last time out when more prominent tactics saw him in better light after two down the field runs. However that was around a completely different track at Bellewstown. Will have his supporters but is opposed off this mark in a tough race. Dasaateer is another handicap debut, he was beaten last time out is a weak race when odds on and the first time blinkers will need to bring marked improvement. The current tissue favourite is Nice Thoughts, he is partnered by Neil Callan who is having his second day back riding in the UK after a stint in Hong Kong. I get the feeling that the handicapper has him in his tight grip and will need to find improvement to take this. The selection is a horse who I have put up the last twice and he has finished second on both occasions, Kerrymerry has been gunned down last by unexposed types and continued to go up the handicap. However he is more battled hardened now and can continue his improvement this year. Last time out when passed he battled on really well and ran all the way to the line. He may just need more waiting tactics to get his head in front. In my opinion he is the most solid for win purposes. The other one worth mentioning is Belle Travers who has ran her last two races at Chester, returning to a more conventional track may just suit. Kerrymerry (WIN)
20:35 Leopardstown In my opinion one of the races of the day, most of these come into this race in form and favourite Hobart for the Coolmore team looks sure to play a big part on handicap debut. The step up to this trip looks sure to suit and there must be more to come from this well bred son of Galileo. That said he promises to be a short price and I much prefer the another horse who is owned by Mrs O’Brien, Magnier and Tabor in Botany Bay. This horse beat Fields of Athenry, those who read last Thursday article will know all about him, in the Ulster Derby. That horse won last Thursday in a listed race by ten lengths. He has the form in the book. Ignore his last run in a slowly run race he could never get into it. This horse looks a dour stayer and in receipt of weight all round can cause a small shock. Sons of the champion sire represent 66% of the field here with Benki and Venezia from the same stock. The former has in form jockey Pat Smullen for company and must be respected while Venezia, for anyone who listened to our last podcast will have noticed I put him up as a horse to follow. I just feel in this race he will struggle to carry around a big weight against some more unexposed types. Botany Bay (WIN)
21:00 Doncaster Back over to Doncaster for another staying race and again a field of eight are declared. Cloud Monkey looks to complete a hat trick of wins and is favourite to do so however this horse has never won off this mark. It took over two years to record a second victory after winning a Dundalk maiden and a drop of twenty two pounds. While he is clearly on good terms with himself there can’t be much left as he dead heated last time out and won by a head previously. So he is opposed. Royal Signaller is showing signs of coming back to form and is only one pound higher than last winning mark so must be respected with stable jockey back on board. Dr Irv and Hallstatt look matched on form and should run there race but preference is for All The Winds. While this is a ten year old, he arguably has never been in better form with three wins on the spin, with one coming at this level. It is interesting that he is turned out quickly after his win on Saturday and Jamie Spencer retains the ride. With his wins coming a shade cheekily and cosily the handicapper hasn’t been able to hike him massively and All The Winds has a great chance of following up again. All The Winds (WIN)