SUNDAY SELECTIONS

15:45 Doncaster

Hathlool has been well backed in the build-up for this and arrives in good form from the all-weather where he has won three of his last five starts. Clearly progressive and from a yard who had a winner here yesterday, one can certainly see the angle though his only two starts on turf to date raise something of a question and he is taken given that and his rather skinny price.

Highwaygrey won over this course and distance last April and is allowed to race off a two pounds lower mark today. Hailing from a powerful Northern yard, he would have rock solid claims if on a going day although those days are becoming increasingly hard to predict and he must overcome an absence of over one hundred and fifty days.

First Impression will be fit and arrives here on the back of a decent effort over timber at Catterick last month. Formerly quite useful on the flat, his yard have been amongst the winners and he makes plenty of appeal off a mark of eighty-four.

Lexington Knight doesn't always convince at the business end of his races and has a string of near-misses next to his name, despite that he has tasted victory before and he went within a whisker of winning a Maiden here last season on debut. Gelded during the winter and allowed to race off a mark of eighty, he looks sure to go well if ready to roll and respect is afforded.

Anythingtoday has become a little frustrating and has barely beaten a rival in three spins on the all-weather, talented enough on his day and below his last winning mark, he would want considering if the market spoke in his favour although one would want to see such confidence prior to playing.

Annadale flopped on his final start for Mark Johnston but showed much more on debut for Jim Goldie when third at Newcastle last time. Four times a winner in his career and just a pound above his last winning mark, he needs considering here and would be dangerous if getting a soft lead.

Gustav Holst was frustrating last term and has been gelded and had his wind done after only a handful of starts, from the Hannon yard and with a fairly striking pedigree, one suspects the penny may drop eventually and he is worth bearing in mind.

Parachute, Year Of The Dragon and Lunar Jet have claims though.

Though a chance will be taken on Lexington Knight, who hails from a yard firing and who has a proven liking for the course.

LEXINGTON KNIGHT (E/W)

16:20 Doncaster

Chairmanoftheboard appears to handle most types of going and makes his seasonal debut for the yard who saddled yesterday's Lincoln winner here. Like most sprinters, he is fairly inconsistent but he did win on his final start last season and he looks fairly well handicapped if judged on his best. Fourth on his comeback last season, his fitness has to be taken on trust though he would likely go very close if fully revved up and he appears to hold a favourites chance.

Woven is extremely difficult to get confident with for win purposes (2-28) but he has very little to find with Chairmanoftheboard on the pairs running at Haydock and he hardly got the smoothest of runs through that day. Proven when fresh and off what looks to be a fair mark, he should be there or thereabouts come the end and he may well break a sequence of losses that stretches back over two years.

Spring Bloom is consistent and racked up a sequence of five placed efforts in succession last season, another who goes well fresh, he deserves to get his head back in front though his mark has crept up as a result of his consistency and there will be easier opportunities than this in the near future.

Pendleton lost his form towards of the end of last season but is yet another known to go well fresh, his mark would give him every chance here though the drying ground will suit others much more than him.

Bergerac had a spin at Southwell recently and showed a pleasing attitude to plug on into third place. Kevin Ryan has sent out two fairly recent winners and his four-year-old is open to improvement this season, as such, respect is afforded.

Devil's Angel, Internationaldream and Ghathanfar are others with claims but a chance will be taken on Woven finally finding his way back into the winner's enclosure.

WOVEN (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly