Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster, Newbury and Cheltenham on Saturday. View selections below.
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Aidan O’Brien saddles three in the Racing Post Trophy and it is not inconceivable he could do an ‘Arc’ and fill all the principal placings.
The vast majority of punters will be on even-money favourite Yucation following his second to classy stablemate Capri in the Beresford Stakes but THE ANVIL (3.50) catches the eye at Doncaster at 16s from an each-way perspective.
Although remaining a maiden after four starts, The Anvil has run well in defeat. In the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket there was a noticeable bias favouring horses racing on or near the stands’ rail, so The Anvil’s third to Best Solution and Zainhom can probably be marked up as he was positioned wider than ideal.
The Anvil chased home Best of Days in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes on good to firm at HQ and represents a sporting bet. Marcel produced a 33-1 shock last year and there are some big prices around if Yucation runs below par on the drying ground.
O’Brien is chasing his eighth Racing Post Trophy scalp and his third runner Finn McCool lost his maiden tag last time, although his last of seven to Churchill in September gives him plenty to do.
William Haggas’ Rivet may not have handled Newmarket’s undulations when folding tamely into fifth spot behind Churchill in the Dewhurst Stakes but his earlier form, including a narrow win in the Champagne Stakes on Town Moor, gives him a chance. He will have a ‘lucky’ jockey on top as Andrea Atzeni has landed the last three runnings of the race on Marcel, Elm Park and Kingston Hill.
A sound surface suits MALMOOSA (1.35) and with no rain forecast she looks sure to run a big race in the opening 1m 2f handicap.
Brian Meehan’s strapping filly found only Sharja Queen too strong at the business end after stretching her field at Newmarket three weeks ago.
A Lingfield scorer on her previous start, Malmoosa may have most to fear from another improving three-year-old in Roger Charlton’s Makzeem, not seen since winning at Windsor in mid-July.
With free-running Mysterial in the line-up there is sure to be a strong gallop which suits Sennockian Star.
UAE PRINCE (3.15) came to the racetrack under the burden of expectation from an inflated price-tag and the way he mopped up a 1m 4f Leicester maiden suggests he could be well enough treated in the 1m 4f handicap.
Roger Varian’s Sea The Stars colt has been allotted a mark of 93 and he beat a horse running off that same rating, Lovely Story, by eight lengths at Leicester. Runner-up Arthur McBride won next time and UAE Prince meets some exposed handicappers.
Again, it may be best to stick to the three-year-olds and Hugo Palmer’s colt To Be Wild beat Sir Valentine in a Ffos Las maiden, albeit on a soft surface.
Saeed bin Suroor’s Huge Future was raised 10lb for beating Lord Huntingdon at Newbury in June and a further rise of 4lb for finishing a well-held second to Saunter at Goodwood seems a bit harsh.
On a decent card at Newbury, KINGS FETE (2.20) is awarded another chance in the St Simon Stakes.
Sir Michael Stoute’s gelding was a tad disappointing when only third to Move Up and stablemate Arab Spring in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot, leading until swept aside over a furlong out.
Kings Fete has winning course form and is worth an ew investment trading around 7-1. Memorial Day and Frontiersman are two others worthy of consideration.
Jumping fans are well catered for at Cheltenham but I’d rather keep a watching brief ahead of next month’s Paddy Power Open meeting. One horse well worth a look in the bumper is Ben Pauling’s KALANISI CIRCLE (5.15), a full brother to stable star Barters Hill.
Kalanisi Circe was made favourite on his only start to date at Southwell in April but was beaten by First Drift after a good battle on testing ground. The winner has had one outing since, running out an easy 10 lengths winner at Worcester, so the form could be a bit better than first looked.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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