Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster, Aintree and Wincanton on Saturday. View selections below.
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ROYAL LINE (3.15) can further improve John Gosden’s excellent record in the Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster.
Gosden has landed the big end-of-season handicap five times and Royal Line has the profile of an improving three-year-old on an easy surface. The colt wasn’t spotted on a racecourse until September when mopping up an average maiden at Windsor.
Royal Line was on and off the bridle for a long way that day and hung left when hitting the front on his next start at Haydock (heavy), so he may not be totally straightforward. In fairness, he has had only a trio of races and is still gaining experience.
Although finishing last of three at Newbury, Royal Line ran into a couple of smart sorts in Time To Study and Duke Of Bronte. Soft ground would be ideal for Royal Line.
Gosden saddled another three-year-old, Cape Cova, to finish third last year behind Godolphin’s Prize Money. The boys in blue rely on Syphax this year. The three-year-old tackles 1m 4f on soft ground for the first time but the son of Arch is bred to enjoy conditions on Town Moor.
Syphax, trained for Godolphin by Kevin Ryan, has enjoyed a four-week break since chasing home Dark Red in a competitive York handicap over an extended 1m 2f trip. He led over two out that day before getting done for speed, with useful Linguistic held in third.
Dance The Dream holds a recent advantage over Top Tug at Leicester but will do well to confirm placings having drawn a stinker in stall 23.
PERFECT PASTURE (2.05) underlined his well-being with an emphatic midweek victory at Nottingham from Clem Fandango and could well reward an each-way interest in the Betfred Mobile Wentworth Stakes.
That latest victory came over 5f but Perfect Pasture edged out Flying Pursuit over course and distance at the end of October. Nothing separates that pair but Flying Pursuit could find himself a bit isolated in stall one.
Sir Dancealot is a talented three-year-old whose sixth to Aclaim in a Group 2 contest at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting was an excellent effort. He showed his
liking for track when returning to give Jallota a beating and although both successes came over seven furlongs, he should cope with the drop in trip.
Dream Of Dreams ran Sir Dancealot to under a length at York last October and should go well.
GET KNOTTED (1.35) is another worthy of an each-way dabble in the 7f Class 2 handicap.
Michael Dods sent him to Musselburgh for his last run, but the tight turning track didn’t play to his strengths. On the day, he could never strike a blow behind prominently-ridden Muntadab but it could be a different story back on a straight track.
Indeed, Get Knotted is 16lb better off with Muntadab for a neck defeat over 6f here last October and if they run to that same level of form, course specialist Muntadab will struggle to confirm superiority.
Shady McCoy is on a hat-trick but the assessor’s latest 8lb rise for scoring at York last month may scupper his winning prospects.
In the Pertemps Nework Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, LOUIS’ VAC POUCH (1.40) can build on a most promising return at Chepstow when a staying-on sixth to Court Minstrel.
The form of that big handicap is already working out, with eighth horse Bags Groove scoring since at Cheltenham and runner-up Wholestone finishing an excellent second to Colin’s Sister in a Graded hurdle at Wetherby last weekend.
Louis’ Vac Pouch could never strike a blow at Chepstow after making a blunder at the third flight but really found his stride in the straight. Aintree’s flat, galloping track should suit.
At bigger odds, Forza Milan should go well for Jonjo O’Neill.
The five-year-old proved a disappointing favourite on his return to action at Worcester following a 205-day absence, finishing only sixth to Holly Bush Henry.
However, the ground may have been a bit lively for Forza Milan that day and he is better judged on his emphatic Chepstow triumph (soft) in February when landing some shrewd bets.
ZUBAYR (3.00) should be on the premises in the Unibet Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.
Paul Nicholls gave him a couple of spins on the Flat this summer to keep him ticking over and Zubayr ran really well in this race last year before falling at the final flight.
He was just held at the time by classy Sceau Royal but is pretty smart on his day, as shown when beaten only a short head by Chesterfield in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April.
Nicky Henderson’s Lough Derg Spirit was a novice with a tall reputation and will be fancied by many to make a winning reappearance, although this is a fairly tough assignment.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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