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.
I have just been looking at tomorrow s doncaster card and the 5.00 race looks a tough grade 2 clon brulee looks way to big at 14s with Ladbrokes so I hav took a little ew at that price the others that have opened are 10s which is kind of fair clon brulee and jockey gibbons have a fantastic record together at this distance also a grade 2 win aswell I'm not really concerned about the ground I'm sure they will put a good run in regardless and watching these in the past they go together exeptionally well .
Fascinating race that 5-00 at Donny - I'd like to thing that Haggas has Conduct tuned to the minute for this and the market price suggests that someone else thinks so too. Also like Tanzeel, Winning Express and Seal of Approval Good luck all
Morning reebs i agree on conduct but he is at an inbetween weight so a little question mark there for me and clon has a little more track history clon also has done the distance a couple of seconds quicker under similar conditions and also only a fraction slower than conduct whilst on soft ground and conducts tiime being on good ground .7s on conduct looks decent ew value but 14 for clon is more than worth a risk both are open to vast improvement still and i dont expect to make out of any race just edge my bets fo4 maximum profit . This would not be a race i wouldnormally bother with but time is hard to find lately with work and i dont think they will shedule the events around me unfortunatly . Good luck all
2.10 Doncaster Annecdote. Maureen will probably be favourite- based on her 6th in the 1000 Guineas. However, she doesn't look a progressive type and may be poor value at her price. The key to this race is the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes run at Goodwood about 5 weeks ago. In that race, Annecdote beat the favourite, Winning Express by 3/4 length. Almost all tipsters feel Winning Express will turn the tables on 3 lbs better terms. Nonetheless, Annecdote's win was full of merit. Drawn wide, she had to be dropped in on the rails, while Winning Express was well away and prominent throughout. Annecdote had to check slightly several times and avoid other horses fighting for room. She finally got to grips with the leaders at the furlong pole, and put in a fine burst to surge through horses and past Winning Express before the line. It was a fine effort and the filly has improved every race this season. I feel she has more to give, and can be backed at an attractive price. Annecdote. Best Price 6/1 Stan James. .
Morning all!! With the weather getting gloomier and a crispness in the air it can mean only one thing - the jumps season approaches!! Before the 'real' racing begins I have kept myself interested today by placing a small eway Lucky 15 over at Doncaster (so I have something to watch while I finish off this bleedin' decorating)... 1:40 Arranger 11/1 2:40 Art Official 10/1 4:25 Mayaasem 10/1 5:00 Aussie Reigns 11/1 Good luck all!!
Interesting to note that Thunderball is 007 years old. I expect him to Bond well with his jockey today and banish the SPECTRE of defeat.
With the word “Soft” appearing in the going at Doncaster, it is a complete no bet so I will just be watching. Yesterday’s card there was a bit of a bookies’ benefit. Notice how the field sizes have suddenly increased at all the meetings as trainers with yards full of slow plodding donkeys (future NH stars and “All Weather” plodders) now look to take advantage of the ground stopping all the fast horses to try and justify their charges not being sent to the glue factory, dog food factory or French restaurant. Get your donkey as fit as possible, run it in a twenty runner cavalry charge and hope it is fitter than the rest.
One for day at Epsom Downs, Hilali... Got on him at 9/2 last night and is now a 3/1 shot in some places... Its AP's only ride at the course where he has won twice and finished 2nd on him. Though i had him in my tracker for the hurdles he makes his return to this course from 17 days ago where he came 3rd over the slightly shorter distance of 1m2f, today is 1m4f... Only bet of the day, but a good one by my standards... Good luck to all...
Have you cast your Goldeneye over this one Oddy. Doncaster is the place for Your Eyes Only to see the 7 year old bolt up and win. Hopefully the jockey wont hit The Living Daylights out of him just to get the win, but hey ho, you Live and Let Die if not... i'll get me coat...
Afternoon, crew. Hope all on board are shipshape. Have deployed the ‘no bet’ banner again today but racing is not without interest and am looking forward to The Lark running again, on these shores, for the first time since the Oaks (3.15 Donny). Think her run that day, and previously at Newbury, highlighted her to be a most useful filly, and one with a lovely name to boot, but although I expect her to win ‘ooooooooooooooop North’ I think anyone getting involved at 7/4, this afternoon, wants sectioning. Meanwhile, I see it’s the Derby (of the NH saddle monkey variety) at Epsom (4.00). The race makes you echo the old boy from the Radio 4 prog ‘Down The Line’ and cry ‘What is point??? What is point???’ but an eye-catching saddle monkey booking is the Bass boy to ride Henry Ponsonby’s, The Betchworth Kid. Both are closely aligned to Mr Henderson, of course, and I’m sure old boy Henry consulted the forum’s favourite trainer re a possible saddle monkey appointment here. Mr Henderson will have recommended the Bass boy most highly and so as a result I’m sure old boy Henry then said to Rupert ‘Ding Dong’ Bell’s brother, ‘Put him up, put him up’. Re The Betchworth Kid, incidentally, on his best form he looks thrown in off 80 and relishes soft ground. 33/1 might not be a bad price as a result but this is a very, very, very tough race to call, people. Good luck if you do trade though.
Paul Cole has taken Berkshire out of Saturday's 'Champagne Stakes' then. Cor blimey when is that horse going to run again?!? His performance at Royal Ascot was still, to my eye, the best from a 2YO this term.
2.50 Epsom Presidente 7/1 is described by Ed Walker as one for next year but he feels he can win his Maiden this year and I think he can today. The first foal of a 10f winning mare, Presidente was given a nice introduction over 6f at Windsor and I definitely feel he'll come on an awful lot for the run which the trainer's juveniles tend to do. The step up 7f should definitely suit and and I definitely see him running a big race in what is a winnable maiden.
£175k for the winner in the next, bravo to the sponsors there, pity there can't be more like them alas that is a different debate for a different day In the said race im gonna have a nibble on "the punters pal" Richard Fahey's charge Khalice. Ran well in his last 2 obviously this is a step up but im willing to have a few shillings ew on the 28's
