The horse racing broadcaster offers his selections for Friday at Doncaster, including his bet in the Doncaster Cup.
Day 2 of a showery Leger meeting brings six races on ITV, starting with a contest over the Leger trip—the Mallard Handicap.
Some stable changes can be significant, while others are little more than a change of sign over the door. However, early signs suggest that the installation of Kevin Philippart De Foy at Amo Racing’s base at Freemasons Lodge is having a positive impact. Of the eight horses that have run for the yard since the licence name change—horses that were already in residence—three have won (A/E 1.65). While the sample size is still small, it’s enough to indicate that internal changes are bearing fruit. MAXI KING / (13:15 Doncaster) hasn’t run since a belated seasonal return at Epsom, where he finished third for Raphael Freire over 1m 4f. He rather carried David Egan to the front too soon that day and will need to settle better at this trip. Crucially, he’s finally got the rain he thrives on, having sluiced through heavy ground to win here back in April last year. He’s now considerably higher in the handicap but has always run well fresh and could be the latest to advertise the ‘Foy factor.’
Most of the leading two-year-old stables lock horns in the Group 3 Flying Scotsman over 7f, where once again Do Or Do Not, the highest-rated in the field, will be looking to shed his maiden status—a label that’s becoming a millstone around his neck. The step up to 7f with cut in the ground should suit his lack of tactical speed, but connections felt the need to try headgear last time (now removed), suggesting they may feel he lacks focus in his races. CATULLUS / (13:50 Doncaster) broke his maiden at prohibitive odds of 1/14 at Yarmouth, but his two previous runs look very solid. He finished third in a Newmarket maiden on debut, a race from which no fewer than six horses won next time out. Catullus himself only narrowly failed to add to that tally when chasing home the highly touted Publish at Sandown. Hankelow warrants respect off his York debut win from Karl Burke’s yard, which continues to excel with juveniles (46/161, A/E 1.21). Andrew Balding (27/119, A/E 1.40) also has a strong record and saddles Sir Albert, who has contributed three of those wins in lower-grade races. With proven ability on soft ground, he also rates a threat in a tricky-looking heat.
REVIVAL POWER / (14:25 Doncaster) featured in a piece I did for ITV earlier in the season about two-year-olds who caught the eye on debut, thanks to her remarkable win at Thirsk. She was clueless early on but produced a telling turn of foot to catch the tiring leaders. She’s still learning how to distribute her energy effectively and looked a sitting target at York in the Listed Roses Stakes last time after setting a strong pace. It was particularly heartening to see her dig in deep to repel Military Code’s challenge close home. Her full sister, Winter Power, won the Cornwallis with cut in the ground, and Revival Power is a substantial unit who should have the strength to cope if conditions turn attritional. Tim Easterby had a quiet season with his two-year-olds last year (4/156, A/E 0.39), but the turnaround this year has been dramatic (19/144, A/E 1.52), with Revival Power looking the pick of the bunch. If she learns to pace herself better, there’s further improvement to come—she has the raw talent to cut through at this level.
The absence of Trawlerman from the Doncaster Cup gives the enigmatic Sweet William an obvious chance to repeat his victory in the race from 12 months ago. However, he’s not one to take a short price about, and the emphasis on stamina here could give KYLE OF LOCHALSH / (15:00 Doncaster) an opportunity to step out of handicap company under conditions he relishes. The more rain, the better for him—things couldn’t have worked out better at Goodwood, where a Friday deluge turned the ground in his favour and he dismantled the field in a 2m 4f handicap, with runners finishing strung out like jumpers. This is clearly a step up in grade, but the group that sets the standard on ratings is exposed and vulnerable to an improving interloper. The greater the test of stamina, the better for Kyle of Lochalsh, and he can test Sweet William’s resolve.
The rescheduled Dick Poole Stakes has been added to the front of Salisbury’s card to allow it to be shown on ITV, and it has attracted a strong line-up. AWAKEN / (15:25 Salisbury), like Catullus, was given a confidence booster in a Leicester maiden last time following her excellent second in the Albany to Venetian Sun—a run that has been franked several times since. While she beat little on paper at Leicester, the second and third both won next time out. Being by Mehmas, she’s very much a filly for this season, and connections will be keen to land a Pattern race sooner rather than later.
The final race on ITV is a 1m 4f fillies’ handicap, where CAPE FLORA / (15:40 Doncaster) can land the hat-trick. She’s been a revelation since front-running tactics were adopted, and even a 9lb rise for her demolition job at York doesn’t look enough to stop her. She set brisk fractions that day, so the fact she was still able to see the race out so strongly marks her as one to follow. The only slight caveat is her ability to cope with cut in the ground. Being by Kingman, that’s a potential concern (A/E 0.83 on soft and heavy), but her dam handled such conditions well in France, so it depends which side of the pedigree she takes after.
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