Watching Doncaster yesterday, it is apparent that the far side rail is to be avoided. I backed Halation, who was held up in the rear. When he went to close up on the leaders, the actual leader folded and he passed that horse but was never in contention as the winner and the placed horses all came up the centre of the track. This presents something of a quandary for Friday’s action on the round course.
Interesting that whilst tobacco advertising is banned, e-cigarettes are allowed to sponsor the Doncaster Cup; however, the race is of no betting interest.
In the Mallard handicap (2:30), I expect that the county set will be piling into old boy Forgotten Voice under Jim Crowley. I think the race is more likely to fall to Not Never (just touched off by Polarisation in the Melrose at York on easy ground) or FUTURE EMPIRE (beaten a neck by Pressure Point at Musselburgh) and prefer the latter as it is not York form.
The six runners in the 4:50 all appear to be horses that like to be up with the pace or leading. Haalick has not been seen since his July debut win and he and fellow debut victor Wall Of Fire could be anything. Tashweeq was odds on when beating a large field of maidens and is not dismissed. MOHAB was well outpointed in a York Group 3 behind Recorder but drops in class here and is given another chance at better than field odds.
Over at Sandown, there is a good card being wasted on a dead Friday; however, the 3:30 looks to be between No Delusion, winner of a three-runner affair last time, and John Gosden’s ALKAWN, raised just three pounds for winning his handicap debut and retaining Dane O’Neill’s services, which looks the bet of the day.
