Harris to Make Most of Winning Opportunity
Doncaster stages some very competitive racing today. The 6 furlong Sprint due off at 15:10 catches my eye with several runners that we have come across throughout the summer. There will be over 20 runners in this race but that makes it all the more appealing right?
I believe we are looking for a high drawn horse to win tomorrow that handles good to soft conditions. The top of the market is dominated by a couple of three year olds but they will need to be improvers to best their elders in a race of this nature. Spinatrix will prove popular no doubt having run very well on his recent starts but looks in the handicappers grip off a rating of 105 and top weight. Louis the Pious is similarly high in the ratings though will like the ground.
The horse that I like has dropped back to a mark of 95 which he won off at the beginning of this season. He has run some great races throughout the summer but will appreciate the ease in the ground today. Trainer Ronald Harris has two runners in the race but his main jockey Luke Morris is riding Prodigality which is noteworthy. On top of that he is drawn 18 which is favourable at Donny.
The bookies are paying out on four places and I believe Prodigality is a value bet at ~ 20/1!
Eye Catchers for Week Ending 20th October
Pale Mimosa – Trainer Dermot Weld – Jockey Pat Smullen
This lightly raced four year old ran a great race on heavy ground at Ascot on Champions Day. She was beaten just over 1 ¾ lengths having been settled last for most of this race. Dermot Weld has said on more than one occasion that Pale Mimosa is a much better horse on good or better ground. This being so, there was a lot to like about this effort and Pale Mimosa can make her mark in the top Cup races at Ascot, Goodwood & Docaster next season.
Balder Success – Trainer Alan King – Jockey Choc Thornton
Balder Success fluffed his lines at Cheltenham when crashing through the 2nd last fence and taking a mighty fall. Luckily he is ok as he is a horse of great potential having smashed the course record when winning at Chepstow a week earlier. Alan King explained the fall away as a result of Balder Success not seeing the fence due to the low lying sun. Therefore, we can forgive this mistake as generally his jumping is very good. He is a horse with bags of speed and one to keep tabs on for the rest of the season.
Stony Grey – Trainer Andy Oliver – Jockey Chris Hayes
Stony Grey almost reeled in the winner Ancient Sands when finishing 2nd in the listed 1m4f event at Naas. He has improved tremendously over the last few Months and is a horse that can make his mark over jumps if switching to that code. His toughness is a great asset and one that will be needed to win over the winter jumps season. His rating has been bumper up another 4lbs to 92 having been as low as 70 back in June! Stony Grey has a good chance of making into a Fred Winter or Triumph horse if taking to the jumping game.
Goldboy – Trainer Willie Mullins – Jockey Fiona Mullins
It’s funny how horses can improve quickly at different times of their career or development. Goldboy did not manage to win on his first three outings but has won well on his most recent two starts under 7lb claimer Fiona Mullins (Willie’s Niece). His recent win in a winner’s bumper at Naas was another step forward and one to take note of. Previous winners of the same race include Road to Riches, Meister Eckhart, Lucky William & Pandorama! A run at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting in a bumper could be next on the cards as Willie thinks he appreciates goodish ground. “On the evidence we’ve seen he’s not a winter horse so we are delighted he has improved on this ground. We’ll probably put him away when it gets really heavy and bring him back in the spring.”
Best of Luck,
Nicky