4.25 Doncaster
Thunderball 16/1
Scott Dixon's old boy Thunderball hasn't been in the best of form of late but I am sure this Doncaster Racing Club owned 7 year old has been targeted at this race for some time and he looks handicapped to strike given he is 3lb below the mark he was successful off over this C+D back in March in a stronger race. A tremendous servant throughout the years, Thunderball has racked up a fantastic 10 wins and 15 places from his 81 starts and I'm sure the shrewd Scott Dixon will have him spot on for this. Back in March, Thunderball ran home a determined 1L winner of a 0-100 handicap off a mark of 91 over this C+D in a race that has worked out really well on his last encounter on soft ground. The runner up Spinatrix has won twice since in really competitive handicaps including off a 3lb higher mark and now rated 105 he is 13lb higher than his defeat that day whilst the 4th home Shropshire was an excellent 2nd off the same mark at Doncaster on his next start in a rattling competitive handicap and was 2nd behind the excellent York Glory in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot off a 3lb higher mark to give the race a really strong look to it. For that victory he was raised to 5lb to a mark of 96 and in his 6 starts since then he has largely struggled but he ran a blinder in the Great St. Wilfid 2 starts back when doing best of those drawn on the wrong side off a mark of 91 and his latest poor performance at Chester can be forgiven. For those 6 runs, he has fallen 8lb to a mark of 88 and judged on his victory here back in March he definitely looks on the sort of mark he can have a massive say on. In addition to looking on a very winnable mark and returning to Doncaster, I think he'll really appreciate the cut in the ground and he has won the last twice when encountering soft (both over this C+D). Barring the few unexposed runners in the race, the majority of the field are seasoned handicappers that hold no secrets like Thunderball but this 7 year old looks to have ideal conditions at a venue he thrives at. Drawn in stall 16, I think he couldn't be any better positioned given that there looks a bias towards the near side rail and there seems to be most of the pace this side of the draw which should allow Thunderball to sit comfortably at the leaders quarters which he enjoys to do. Tom Queally, who has been absent for the last 5 starts, regains the reins having been on board for his Doncaster victory in March and the Scott Dixon yard are in good form at the moment. Having gotten himself well handicapped, Thunderball returns to the scene of his last 2 victories with conditions to suit and I am very sure that this Doncaster Racing Club owned 7 year old has been 100% aimed at this contest and I am very sweet on his chances in this big field handicap that he relishes.
Thunderball 16/1
Scott Dixon's old boy Thunderball hasn't been in the best of form of late but I am sure this Doncaster Racing Club owned 7 year old has been targeted at this race for some time and he looks handicapped to strike given he is 3lb below the mark he was successful off over this C+D back in March in a stronger race. A tremendous servant throughout the years, Thunderball has racked up a fantastic 10 wins and 15 places from his 81 starts and I'm sure the shrewd Scott Dixon will have him spot on for this. Back in March, Thunderball ran home a determined 1L winner of a 0-100 handicap off a mark of 91 over this C+D in a race that has worked out really well on his last encounter on soft ground. The runner up Spinatrix has won twice since in really competitive handicaps including off a 3lb higher mark and now rated 105 he is 13lb higher than his defeat that day whilst the 4th home Shropshire was an excellent 2nd off the same mark at Doncaster on his next start in a rattling competitive handicap and was 2nd behind the excellent York Glory in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot off a 3lb higher mark to give the race a really strong look to it. For that victory he was raised to 5lb to a mark of 96 and in his 6 starts since then he has largely struggled but he ran a blinder in the Great St. Wilfid 2 starts back when doing best of those drawn on the wrong side off a mark of 91 and his latest poor performance at Chester can be forgiven. For those 6 runs, he has fallen 8lb to a mark of 88 and judged on his victory here back in March he definitely looks on the sort of mark he can have a massive say on. In addition to looking on a very winnable mark and returning to Doncaster, I think he'll really appreciate the cut in the ground and he has won the last twice when encountering soft (both over this C+D). Barring the few unexposed runners in the race, the majority of the field are seasoned handicappers that hold no secrets like Thunderball but this 7 year old looks to have ideal conditions at a venue he thrives at. Drawn in stall 16, I think he couldn't be any better positioned given that there looks a bias towards the near side rail and there seems to be most of the pace this side of the draw which should allow Thunderball to sit comfortably at the leaders quarters which he enjoys to do. Tom Queally, who has been absent for the last 5 starts, regains the reins having been on board for his Doncaster victory in March and the Scott Dixon yard are in good form at the moment. Having gotten himself well handicapped, Thunderball returns to the scene of his last 2 victories with conditions to suit and I am very sure that this Doncaster Racing Club owned 7 year old has been 100% aimed at this contest and I am very sweet on his chances in this big field handicap that he relishes.
