As we transition between the flat and jumps seasons, betting opportunities in theory become thinner on the ground. Tired flat horses and underprepared jumpers should be avoided where possible.
While Cheltenham and the Old Roan Chase mean National Hunt fans have plenty to keep them going, we stick with the flat where we should watch the run of Laneqash in the Horris Hill. He’s a short price this time, but assuming the conditions are OK he could put in a performance that keeps him in the 2021 Classic hunt.
Stakes can be kept to a minimum this week, spread over five bets and with typical end of season weather meaning results can vary.
1.10 Doncaster (Handicap) – CEPHEUS
This is a tight old handicap at first glance, but we should be looking for ability, some proven form in the conditions or at least the potential for improvement in them.
With that in mind, the name that keeps getting to or near the top of whatever list I compile is Brian Meehan’s Cepheus.
This three-year-old is already decent, rated 100 now, but the style of both his win under today’s jockey William Buick and his runner-up effort at Ascot behind Shandoz marked him out as one with plenty more to come.
We will ignore his last run and take a punt on him now, though the competition in behind is plentiful. Tulip Fields could be overpriced, Fishable stands a chance, Johnny Drama could now come back to form while Iconic Choice and likely favourite Laafy remain capable.
1.35 Saint-Cloud (Criterium International – Group 1) – LA BARROSA
Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have two excellent one-mile Group One prospects in the juvenile ranks, and with the ideal schedule in Europe this week he has the chance to split them up with One Ruler going to Doncaster.
There are no odds available at all at the time of writing for this event, though it is hoped that the presence of Van Gogh, Normandy Bridge and Policy Of Truth in the field will be enough to keep them honest.
La Barrosa, a son of Lope De Vega out of a Montjeu mare who should love these conditions, is two from two now after wins at Ascot and Newmarket and he looks every inch a classic contender for next season.
He wasn’t as fluent as many expected in his Group 3 last time, but the ground was not entirely for him that day, he showed inexperience and he is thought to be a good few pounds better than what he showed there. James Doyle is in France to take the ride.
1.45 Doncaster (Doncaster Stakes – Listed Race) – ZAMAANI
This is a decent six-furlong juvenile race, one in which Aidan O’Brien’s Lipizzaner, Simon & Ed Crisford’s Zamaani and Les Eyre’s Just Frank have been close at the top of the betting all week.
Just Frank was an impressive winner of the £150,000 auction race at Newmarket at the start of the month, but those events suit certain types and this event will be very different.
Lipizzaner has experience now after six runs and is improving, but he’s won only a maiden at this point giving himself the look of a horse whose level we know.
He leaves the door open therefore for Zamaani, another with experience but one who is moving forward a little quicker from run to run. He seems to do it on any ground and can comfortably stay up with the pace, something that at Doncaster this week should stand him in good stead.
2.55 Doncaster (Futurity Trophy – Group 1) – ONE RULER
Regular readers may remember how sweet I was on Kameko for this race last year, both in the Doncaster event when he was set to take on the Coolmore battalion, and at Newcastle in the rearranged race he won.
This year I have similar feelings about Charlie Appleby’s One Ruler who should be winning Group 1 races next year, whether they be classics or not.
He was a decent second on debut on unsuitably quick ground, while he was third in a good Listed race here at Doncaster over seven furlongs when unlucky in running.
In beating Maximal on his second run he announced himself as a potential star, but it was the way he took the Group 3 Autumn Stakes on soft ground over this trip at Newmarket that really made him stand out.
After taking care of a good field including Van Gogh with the minimum of fuss, he stood out as a colt who has plenty more improvement to come hence Charlie Appleby’s decision to go here and not put him away for the year.
His main rival should be Aidan O’Brien’s ante-post favourite Wembley, one with solid form but usually in behind. Joseph O’Brien’s State Of Rest is next on the list while the constantly improving Megallan cannot be ruled out, at least for a place.
3.00 Newbury (Radley Stakes – Listed Race) – LITTLE KITTEN
We have a go in another Listed race for the two-year-olds here, this time the seven-furlong fillies’ event at Newbury.
Among the main hopes are Roger Charlton’s Love Is You, a nice enough debut winner, and Roger Varian’s Setarhe who has been busy this year and reached a high official mark of 98.
The latter-named is down to 93 now with no guarantee of moving back up, meaning this race is very winnable and it could be John Gosden’s Little Kitten who proves to be the best value.
The Godolphin filly is a daughter of Sea The Stars out of a Dynaformer mare, one who should get better and better the more of a test she gets.
In an under-par renewal of this race, a once-raced John Gosden filly is bound to catch the eye and so with much improvement expected from a filly with her profile, Little Kitten could prove to be a couple of lengths better than this bunch. Nicky Mackay is up top with Rab Havlin at Doncaster to ride Megallan.
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