Lincoln day tomorrow and the ‘proper’ start of the flat part 2. The first was Ripon on Monday and the proper ‘proper’ one is Guineas day in May!
What used to an impossible race to fathom is now just a very hard race to fathom due to a reduced field size.
Man of Harlech did us a favour in last year’s Cambridgeshire and he should be that bit stronger with another winter on his belt and he has had a few runs on the all weather. He is drawn near a lot of pace and should have the requisite stamina to be staying on at the death. The application of a hood last time helped him settle and it is re-applied today.
Keystroke in the first should appreciate the soft ground as a son of Pivotal and beat a very good all weather field last time on only his fourth start. The rough and tumble of that should have allowed him to grow up and he has a great each way chance tomorrow. He was a big fancy for the bif race itself and could gain some compensation here. Yourartisonfire has run well at this meeting the last two years and is too big at 33/1 to dismiss.
The first racehorse I ever rode was Vorvados winner of the 1984 Cammidge Trophy (below) and this year’s renewal could go to the in-form Mick Channon stable via Mobsta. Still lightly raced and possibly over the top when disappointing in his last run of the 2015 season. Soft ground and six furlongs is ideal.
In the 3.55 Belardo should make short work of this field in receipt of 7lb from Custom Cut. The 2014 Dewhurst winner loves a bit of cut and a straight mile and could be in for a very good year starting here.
Over the jumps at Newbury we strongly fancied Fingal Bay on better ground at Cheltenham but any hope was quashed by being hampered early on. A recovery mission today is on the cards.
Summary
2.15 Doncaster – Keystroke – 1pt EW at 7/1
2.15 Doncaster – Yourartisonfire – 0.5pts EW at 33/1
2.45 Doncaster – Man of Harlech – 1pt EW at 16/1
3.20 Doncaster – Mobsta – 0.5pts EW at 16/1
3.55 Doncaster – Belardo – 2pts Win at Evens
2.35 Newbury – Fingal Bay – 1pt Win at 11/4
racingahoy 