Doncaster Saturday Preview - 01/04/23

A very tricky punting race to kick us off at Doncaster with the Brocklesby Stakes over 5f seeing all the runners have their debut and all we can go off is pedigree and liking for ground.

On that premise we have sided with Equiart at a double figure price for trainer Daryll Holland who's sire is smart sprinter Equiano and has relations in the family that have handled soft ground in the past.

At 16/1 he is worth chancing with the talented Danny Tudhope taking the reins.

Next up at Doncaster is the Spring Mile Handicap and although Grant Tuer has a few in the field Dirtyoldtown looks to be his best chance.

A winner on soft ground in 2021 at Chepstow over 7f, he does have a tendency to throw in some bad runs but that has seen his handicap mark drop slightly.

Two starts ago at Doncaster in September on soft ground in a Class 2 Handicap, he finished a good second by a head behind the smart New Kingdom for Godolphin.

Not being able to replicate that on good ground on his final start at Ayr, he now sees him down to a mark of 88 and getting back to his preferred conditions he is in with a chance.

First time blinkers should improve him aswell.

One of the smarter events of the afternoon at Doncaster is the Listed Cammidge Trophy over 6f and with a big field going to post we have played two at each way prices.

The first is the James Horton trained Asjad who at the back end of last term got his act together when winning a handicap off 101 over 6 1/2f on soft ground at Town Moor.

Up 3lb and up to 7f in a hot contest at Ascot he carried on his good form to finish a close third in a big fielded 17 runner handicap, with the second since franking the form on a few occasions.

Off the same mark back at Doncaster over the same C&D as this race he was a good second on soft ground behind experienced sprinter Dakota Gold.

He holds serious course form, loves conditions and now deserves his chance in Listed company and still only five years old he could still be improving.

At a bigger price in the race and a runner who will be looking to fill the frame is the Fast Reponse for Karl Burke, who is another who is in good form, especially round Doncaster on soft/heavy ground.

A winner over five furlongs on soft ground at Nottingham in October off a mark of 85, she then raced off 3lb higher over 5f at Doncaster on heavy ground and made it back to back wins.

Ran four days later back at Nottingham, the run came too soon, but she bounced back to form when last seen over this races' course and distance in the Listed Wentworth Stakes, where she won well by two lengths from Tarhib.

Getting 2lb off the market leaders she could still be progressing at the age of four and will love conditions at a track she knows well.

The Charlie Hills trained Wanees has been seen seven times for his trainer during his career, making his debut in August 2021 when sixth of 14 at Newbury in a decent Maiden, but then in September at Ascot over seven furlongs got off the mark beating a subsequent Group Three winner.

Wanees finished that season by making it back to back wins at Salisbury over seven furlongs in a novice stakes giving weight away.

He bought up the hat-trick in the Esher Cup Handicap at Sandown on seasonal debut this term when seen at a mile for the first time.

On a mark of 91 he was sent to Royal Ascot when running a good race to finish sixth of 30 in the Britannia Stakes, but next time out he ran no race at all.

Putting that run behind him off a mark of 93 when last seen, being well backed on good to soft ground at Haydock in the Old Boston Handicap he went on to win well.

Up a further 3lb for this event he will get into the race off 9st 1lb and this horse will appreciate the soft ground that is currently showing at Doncaster making his price of 10/1 too big.

Drawn stall 22.

The other runner in the race at similar odds that could go close especially getting his ground is the George Boughey trained Baradar who is drawn the other side of the track.

A horse that did not do a lot for Johnny Murtagh over in Ireland but moved to George Boughey in October last year he made his debut over 7f at Doncaster in November on heavy ground.

Showing completely different form to his time in Ireland he went on to win comfortably by over a length, with the heavy ground bringing huge improvement.

That win came off a mark of 93 and only 4lb higher for this event, stepping up another furlong he has plenty in his favour.

Another Listed race on the Doncaster card is the Doncaster Mile Stakes and Poker Face for Simon & Ed Crisford could be a class above this field.

The four year old has been seen three times to date and is currently unbeaten on all three of his starts, making his debut over a mile at Pontefract in September when winning well in a Maiden.

Sent into a Novice Stakes under a penalty he went on to beat a 4/5 favourite for John & Thady Gosden in convincing fashion at Newcastle on the all weather.

Landing the hat-trick in October back at Pontefract on handicap debut, he bolted up by close to nine lengths off a mark of 87.

Now on a rating of 101, he steps into Listed company and obviously still progressing he should take this race in his stride if handling the softer conditions.

The final selection of the afternoon from Doncaster comes in the Apprentice Handicap over 1m2f and a horse called Mrs Meader for trainer Julia Feilden takes the eye.

In superb form of late the mare got back to winning ways at Newbury in June on good to soft ground over 1m2f off a mark of 56, she then went to Leicester up in trip to 1m4f off 6lb higher and she bumped into a nice type for Ralph Beckett.

At the same track back down to her optimum trip off 1lb lower she got back to winning ways in gritty fashion and then last time out at Newbury she made it back to back wins in a 17 runner Handicap back at Newbury on heavy ground.

She goes in this race off 5lb higher, but getting her conditions and obviously still improving she can't be overlooked in a race that lacks depth.