The opening race at Doncaster is a Listed Race. The Doncaster Stakes can see SAN DONATO complete a hat trick of wins despite the rapid jump in class.
The two-year-old was mightily impressive when winning a Class 5 handicap at Kempton in September which was a massive improvement.
The horses previous attempt at this level were relatively disappointing but the colt is a different animal now and can confirm favouritism for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.
Next up it’s the Scott Dobson Memorial Nursery Handicap. In another race for two-year-olds BEAT LE BON can shed his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking after some near misses.
His performance in finishing second at Listed Level indicates this should be well within his capabilities and connections would be disappointed if he cannot finally get his head in front at this level.
The Vertem Different Stockbrokers Handicap can see WESTERN DUKE win carrying what seems a featherweight.
Much of that is due to some disappointing runs of late but he is a previous course winner and has some solid form this time last year.
The return to 1m 4f is a positive and he could be overpriced if finding some of his best three-year-old form.
In the sunracing.co.uk Handicap we are taking a chance on the big priced Duke Of Firenze. In an open race the selection is the oldest horse in the race.
However he is a horse that has previously run at Group level, has won in this grade before and his last run after a slow start shows he still has plenty to offer.
The gelding can grab his first win since May 2017 here.
The feature race of the day is the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1). We think likely favourite MAGNA GRACIA can get his head in front to set up an interesting season next year.
Clearly the best chance of the eight O’Brien runners, the Galileo colt narrowly missed out in Group 3 company last time out when the front two pulled clear.
Whilst some horses in the race have solid form there looks to be plenty more to come from the selection. Trainer won this last year.
EL ARAYG can win his first race of the season for Tim Easterby in the crownhotel-bawtry.com Optional Claiming Handicap.
The Class 2 over 7f seems an open affair but the selection ran well at this level last time out and that looked like a significant return to form after a series of disappointing runs.
He runs off the same mark today and can reverse the form with a number of his rivals here. Horse out of Oasis Dream.
The final race of the day is the Alan Wood Plumbing & Heating Apprentice Jockeys’ Training Series Final Handicap.
The race for three-year-olds see’s eleven runners go to post and we like the look of KYLLACHY DRAGON. Whilst the horse is still a maiden he has ran creditably in a higher grade than this earlier in the season.
He is on a career low mark, the same mark as arguably the best run of his career. If he can find the form of that day in April he has every chance of hitting the frame.
