Although Newbury continues to provide great jumping action we turn our attentions to the start of the season on the level and it could get off to the best possible start for us betting-wise.
Doncaster is the focus of our attention with selections in the Listed Cammidge Trophy and Doncaster Mile backing up a handicap bet in the Spring Mile on what could be a cracking day for punters.
Embed from Getty Images1.50 Doncaster (Cammidge Trophy) – PERFECT PASTURE
Mick Easterby’s eight-year-old finished his season last year in the same grade of race, on the same track over the same trip and on similar ground so there’ll be no surprises here. He ran his best ever race that day and was on an upward curve generally so we may expect an even better run this time.
Should that not happen he still has a fantastic chance as even running to around 5lbs lower than expected may still be enough, so we do have leeway. Lancelot Du Lac won last time out at Wolverhampton and is race fit, though on the balance of his form I’d say he wouldn’t quite be running up to Perfect Pasture’s level with all things being equal.
The main danger may well be Mr Lupton who likes a fast pace and so in Listed company may be well suited by this affair. Ground is not a concern to him and he may go well.
2.25 Doncaster (Spring Mile) – TAQDEER
John Gosden’s entrant hasn’t run for 692 days but the fact that a) his top class connections have kept him in training and b) they start him off topweight in a tight handicap suggest he’s better than this and could make a winning start to the season before going on to better things.
It would not surprise me if John Gosden saw Taqdeer as a potential Group horse for the summer and I wouldn’t want to miss the chance to say we’d backed him at a nice price before the secret is out.
On the handicap this is tight with Original Choice and Kynren among those who look to have a similar chance at a glance, however Taqdeer’s speed figures as a 3yo given the races he was running in are impressive and so going over the mile with a faster pace could bring out the best in him.
3.00 Doncaster (Doncaster Mile) – ZABEEL PRINCE
This race may well come down to the top two in the betting who look well clear of the rest. Tabarrak was just ridden out to score in Listed company on his final start last season but could be close to the end of his improvement and may prove better over seven furlongs.
His 3lb penalty doesn’t help either and so the door is open for Zabeel Prince who is on an upward curve and could be aimed at Group races later in the season. Both horses go well when fresh but only Roger Varian’s can definitely handle softer going and still show his best form so he gets the vote.
3.10 Lingfield (Handicap) – WAHASH
Frankie Dettori misses Doncaster to come here and ride two horses for his retainer at Al Shaqab Racing and this one could prove to be great value. Having been a little disappointing towards the end of the summer, Wahash was given time off by Richard Hannon but now returns to the scene of his easy maiden win in September 2016.
Up to and including last June at Epsom he was very much an improving miler and reached a handicap mark of 98. If anything you’d expect him to be better than that now so coming in here off a mark of 94 could prove to be easier than it should be. My Target and Chevallier look like being the main dangers.
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