1.20 Doncaster
Colonel Mak 10/1
I'd have preferred if he had come here with a run under his belt but I think David Barron's 6 year old has a tremendous chance of landing this event for the 2nd year running. Colonel Mak comes here on the back of a 140 day absence and he was out of form at the end of last season but he comes here looking a well handicapped horse off a mark of 95 which is 3lb below the mark he was successful in this last year. He took a very different path before last years renewal as he was fit from the all weather but he ran out a very impressive winner that day off a mark of 98. Sitting just in behind the pace that day, tomorrow's pilot Luke McNiff took up the running with about 1.5f left to go and nothing in behind could muster a challenge as he ran out a ready winner. He proved that effort was no fluke when running an absolute belter on his next start off a 6lb higher mark of 104 when finishing under top weight of 9-10 when 3rd in a very competitive handicap at Newmarket last May won by subsequent Group 2 winning Maarek. Additionally, the runner up Shropshire (who reopposses tomorrow off 25lb worse terms if taking claims into account), won subsequently off a 4lb higher mark and he was also not beaten all that far off a 10lb higher mark in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and if reproducing that effort tomorrow then surely he will take the world of beating. Although he won a weak enough Conditions Race in July, Colonel Mak struggled to make an impact for the rest of last season but resultantly has fallen to a lovely mark of 95 which I think he has a superb chance of winning off. Although his record fresh is a little bit of an unknown, he ran a very eye catching 4L beaten 10th in this race in 2011 on seasonal reappearance when running on under tender handling late on and I certainly think the Barron yard have purposely aimed him at landing this race for the 2nd year running. Luke McNiff, who was on board when winning last years renewal, takes the ride and a very handy 5lb off and I think this 6 year old has a superb chance if fully wound up for this. Clearly well handicapped off a mark of 95 when looking at some of his efforts last year, I'm very confident of a very big showing from Colonel Mak and hopefully he can repeat history and land this for the 2nd year running. Current favourite King Of Jazz also looks a well handicapped horse and I've done the RFC and had a saver.