Best Of Bets

Tag: Doncaster

  • Four To Follow: Cheltenham Crackers

    Four To Follow: Cheltenham Crackers

    Cheltenham. Is. Back. And it looms a cracker of a card, and it’s only the first meeting of the season. Plenty of clues with the novice divisions already taking shape, and some handicaps to savour too. Plus we, might, have the final Group One on the flat at Doncaster that may see an upset on the boggy ground. It’s Saturday, it’s Four to Follow.

    Lord Almighty

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    2:25 – William Hill Handicap Chase – Lord Accord @ 4/1 (William Hill)

    Neil Mulholland’s star won this race last year, and is back to do it all again on the Old Course. The big statistic that has made him been backed in, is he is only one pound higher than last year’s mark. The ground will not be a bother, and his running style suits the trip and course to a T. I just can’t look past him, even if he might be too short for a handicap.

    Twig is another to consider for the Ben Pauling team, who had an emotional winner with Mole Court yesterday. Twig has won his last tow starts, over both hurdle and chase classes, at this level. The handicap has given him a five pound rise, which Beau Morgan immediately takes off with the claim. The ground is good, whilst a little rain softened, which is perfect for a nice swing at 9/1 (William Hill).

    And with extra places on offer with bookmakers, the third pick is an Irish raider. Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott always bring a string over to every Cheltenham meeting, and they’re not just there for peanuts. De Bromhead saddles Whacker Clan who won’t mind the good-ish ground, despite a win on soft ground last time out. Down in the handicap and a big price at 16/1 (William Hill).

    A New Pick

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    3:00 – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – Hugos New Horse @ 15/2 (Unibet)

    Ah, the Pertemps. One of jumps racing’s greatest creations. But I can’t really understand why Hugos New Horse is as big as he is. He’s only been raised two pounds for a rather convincing win at Ayr on his final start last season and makes him quite well handicap. In the colours of the Stewart Family, which carries some credibility, Paul Nicholls can get a Cheltenham winner on the board with this eye-catcher.

    Syd Hosie had an incredible win on Trials Day last year with Rock My Way, which prompted some wild celebrations in the winners’ enclosure. Fate didn’t repeat itself at the Festival but comes to this race well handicapped. Whilst he might not have won on ‘good’, it might ride a little softer today which will benefit. He loves Cheltenham, and is worth to take on at 14/1 (BetVictor)

    And I can’t really get past Party Business at 18/1 (Betfred). He’s coming off a run and a wind operation but is a regular runner over good-to-soft ground. He’s been waiting to get an attractive mark it looks lie he’s got it. He’s two pounds higher than his previous winning mark, which was at Aintree in 2022, and he could run a big race here.

    Eh Laddie

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    3:45 – William Hill Novices’ Hurdle – Lisnamult Lad @ 6/1 (General)

    Whilst Antrim Coast is odds-on for beating a non-favourite Willie Mullins horse last time out (And the Keith Donoghue Cheltenham factor), I’m unsure why John McConnell’s horse is 6/1. The trainer has sent the winner out twice in the last three years, and this horse seems like a wild thing. Three out of four over hurdles, his last two winning margins are a combined 44 ½ lengths. He has licence to step up in trip and can overturn the market.

    Doing A Donny Rain Dance

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    Doncaster 2:10 – KAMEKO Futurity Trophy (Group One) – Dancing Gemini @ 5/1 (BetVictor)

    This meeting could be called off, so ignore this if it is. But I still think that Dancing Gemini would still win in the swimming turf. Breeding-wise, Camelot won the Irish Derby on soft/heavy ground and won the Flying Scotsman on soft ground by 4 ½ lengths. Ice Max is the only one who has franked the form, but form goes out the window when the ground gets as bottomless as it is in South Yorkshire.

    Just keep an eye out for Devil’s Point at 22/1 (888Sport). David Menusier won a Group One 2-Y-O race at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, and Devil’s Point has heavy ground in his breeding thanks to New Bay. He can run a big race on bottomless.

    The very best of luck!

  • St. Leger Festival | Four To Follow: Classic Charge

    St. Leger Festival | Four To Follow: Classic Charge

    The winners have kept coming and coming for us in this year’s St. Leger Festival, and let’s hope the page can end on a high today with the big race itself the centrepiece of Doncaster’s season. Here’s Saturday’s Four To Follow plus St. Leger fancy.

     

    Rose Champagne

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    1:50 – Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group Two) – Rosallion @ 4/9 (William Hill)

    Down the years the Champagne Stakes has always been a good looking contest, but today it’s more of an open and shut case. Rosallion annihilated the field in the Pat Eddery at Ascot on his last start, and the form got a major boost with Dancing Gemini winning yesterday. Bred by Blue Point, he has the ability to go on softer ground and Richard Hannon’s record in recent years is also key to this horse’s chances.

     

    King Of Town Moor

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    2:25 – Betfred Portland (Heritage H’cap) – King’s Lynn @ 10/1 (Betfred)

    The Portland is always an interesting race, and this year’s renewal looks more open than ever. I’m siding with King’s Lynn, formerly of Royal ownership, for his record on soft ground. He hated the bottomless ground at Goodwood, but has better record on soft ground. He has won two Doncaster sprints before, including the 2-Y-O sales race and the Wentworth Stakes (soft) in 2021. Despite not winning a heritage handicap, the ground may play a factor to other horses who will prefer it firmer, and King’s Lynn can use the far side rail to his advantage.

    Sticking with the soft theme, Live In The Moment could make it a momentous year for De’Lemos’. The owners who won with Live In The Dream have an outside chance with this one who won a class four handicap at Goodwood last time out. He’ll want a better race here, and with the ground to a likeable soft, and with experience in top level handicaps, he can spring a surprise. Each-way shout at 16/1 (William Hill)

    One more to consider is Dakota Gold. Although you would rather be seeing him up at York, Dakota Gold and Michael Dods have a liking for any Yorkshire track. Despite Dods not winning the race, he has won a class two handicap with Dakota Gold before at their November meeting. The soft ground is to Dakota Gold’s preference, and is back to a winning mark of 100. And old reliable at 22/1 (Betfred)

     

    A Softie Spy

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    3:00 – Betfred Park Stakes (Group Two) – Spycatcher @ 6/4 (Betfred)

    There’s only two horses that have reliable soft ground form in the race. Spycatcher and Biggles. It would be worth having those two in a reverse forecast, but outright Spycatcher has the form to go on, after been beaten by a head in a French Group One last time out. His season started brilliantly with a win of seven furlongs at Thirsk on soft ground, and was placed in the Victoria Cup in May. It’s those kinds of results that make him the pick of the bunch here.

     

    Another Frankie Fairytale

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    3:35 – Betfred St. Leger Stakes (Group One) – Arrest @ 9/2 (William Hill)

    A lot of people are saying that Frankie Dettori has made the wrong choice in the St. Leger. He should have Gregory who has the ‘Group One form’. Gregory hasn’t run in a Group One, and, for me, he didn’t look like the St. Leger winner in the Queen’s Vase. He ran his worst race in the Great Voltigeur and looking back on the Queen’s Vase, he still looked quite green and inexperienced.

    But Arrest, for me, holds all the aces. He was disappointing at Epsom, because he didn’t handle the ground. The one thing we haven’t seen Gregory do is act on soft ground. Four winners in the last ten years ran in the Epsom Derby and went to win here. Arrest is the only horse in the field to have done so. His run at Newbury was a step up in distance and, albeit a warm-up, it shows that he relished the step up in trip and has more than a chance to win the final classic of the season. I say Frankie’s judgement is perfect.

    You can have a more in depth look at the St. Leger here

    The very best of luck!

  • St. Leger Festival | Four To Follow: No Rane On His Parade

    St. Leger Festival | Four To Follow: No Rane On His Parade

    What a start to the St Leger Festival for the column. Two winners plus a running on second puts us firmly in the driving seat for Day Two. Today, the feature is the Doncaster Cup where we could see another dual winner in the history of the race, which dates back further than the St Leger. There’s also a couple more 2-Y-O races to cover on the card in Four To Follow.

     

    Dance Battle

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    1:50 – Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) – War Rooms @ 11/4 (Betfred)

    Racing at Town Moor yesterday was slow. The 2-Y-O selling race was the second slowest in its history, which shows you the extent of how much the rain has got in. There’s a bit more rain forecast overnight but it shouldn’t’ be softer than yesterday. This will incline punters to stick with soft ground horses, and the favourite is just that. He scorched clear of C&D in June, and was pulled out at Haydock last Saturday due to the ground, and he’s got his ground here today. Trainer Owen Burrows has entries for him in the Dewhurst and the Futurity at the end of the season and is clearly one to keep an eye at three.

    Another that can perform on the soft ground is Dancing Gemini. A winner at Newbury on good-to-soft, he steps up in grade but not by much and is the perfect progression step for Roger Teal’s two-year-old. The form has been franked with two winners out of the Newbury maiden next time out, and those that raced next time out came in the top three. Dancing Gemini has a very good chance of outrunning her 17/2 (William Hill) odds.

     

    Bermuda To Brighten

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    2:25 – Flying Childers Stakes (Group Two) – Flora Of Bermuda @ 7/1 (William Hill)

    Looking at some of the trainers comments, some are quizzical about the ground particularly Big Evs. This news opens the door to other runners down the order and Flora OF Bermuda can put on another good showing today. She won by four lengths in the mud at Goodwood, and won’t mind the ground one jot at Doncaster on Friday. Her ground preference was evident when finishing last at York in the Lowther, but she’s back in calmer waters and can sail past those struggling with the ground.

    At a price, and a good name, Graceful Thunder has won three races this season all with soft in the title. The best of those was a class two maiden at Beverley and has gone since to win a Listed contest and was narrowly beaten in a Group Three, both in France. George Boughey enjoyed a 2-Y-O winner yesterday with Chic Columbine and has an outside chance with Graceful Thunder at 14/1 (Betfred)

     

     

    Ding Donny Battle

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    3:00 – Betfred Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group Two) – Coltrane @ 6/4 (Betfred)

    Coltrane has started to kick into gear this season and his Lonsdale Cup victory was mightily impressive. He was ever so tough to hold off Trueshan last year, in similar conditions. However, we just don’t know which version of him we’re going to see as it’s his first run after a wind op.

    Both will enjoy the ground, there’s no doubt, but Coltrane has to carry a penalty for this race which gives Trueshan a chance. But I have to come down on the side of the horse that has performed admirably, and that is Coltrane.

     

    Legendary Bet

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    3:35 – Betfred Mallard Handicap – Legendary Day @ 15/2 (Betfred)

    In terms of a handicap, it’s a poor turnout. Eight runners at this level is disappointing, but it’s what we have to deal with. But despite the lack of challengers, it’s an intriguing race. The Goat is the one to beat with his 12 length romp in the Goodwood mud still fresh in the bookies minds. He didn’t run a bad race in the Melrose, finishing in midfield on ground he’s not keen on has to go noticed.

    But I feel Legendary Day will give him a big challenge. He’s ground versatile and can stay over further, which will be crucial here. His performance at the Ebor Festival was fantastic, finishing third. Mark Winn is a jockey I have a lot of time for and take three pounds off to give him an attractive mark of 83, the same mark he won over two miles with.

    The very best of luck!

  • St. Leger Festival | Three To Follow: May Or May Not

    St. Leger Festival | Three To Follow: May Or May Not

    It’s the start of the Festival that celebrates the oldest Classic in the calendar. The St. Leger Festival at Doncaster is always a fantastic meeting, and there are four days of excellent racing action, kicking off with two Group Two’s today in, a short and sweet, Three To Follow.

     

    Leading Into Battle

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    2:55 – Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes – Dragon Leader @ 9/4 (William Hill)

    Big field two-year-old races are, more often than not, a minefield for punters. But this particular race falls quite nicely in the calendar to have a go at. Most of the winning form comes from York’s two-year-old races, whether that be the Gimcrack, the Harry Beeby or the Nurseries.

    Dragon Leader is thrice unbeaten, including scorching to victory in the Harry Beeby at York last time out. He’s ended up with a surprisingly low weight, which will be beneficial for him to perform on what may be soft ground, since a bit of rain has been forecast in Yorkshire this afternoon. William Buick takes over from Ryan Moore who is Johannes Brahms.

    One who will appreciate juice in the ground is Flaccianello. After the fallout from Kevin Stott and Amo Racing earlier in the week, Cam Hardie gets the nod from Richard Fahey. Hardie has ridden and won on him on debut, and crucially won a nursery on soft ground last time out with plenty in hand and looks the each-way danger at 16/1 (Betfred).

    There’s one at a big price which I really interested me, Grey Cuban for Hugo Palmer. His last run wasn’t his best, but blame the ground for that run as everything happened at quite a pace. His previous two runs came on good-to-soft, and the form from his run at Nottingham has worked out a treat. Five winners have come out of that race, including four on their next start. Danny Tudhope enjoyed a profitable weekend in Ireland, and can pull a shock off here at 40/1 (William Hill).

     

    Darn Far Too Hot

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    3:00 – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group Two) – Darnation @ 7/4 (William Hill)

    I watched this horse in person when she broke her maiden at Thirsk. She won by ten lengths and I had a feeling that she would take the Group race route. She has the makings of (whisper it quietly) a potential Guineas winner. Her win in the Prestige at Goodwood affirmed my beliefs and now she comes to Doncaster, on ground she will relish. Clifford Lee rode her on her ten-length victory and has the ability to do it again, but with an appreciable step up in trip.

     

    Sumo To Sparkle

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    3:35 – Betfred Park Hill Stakes (Group Two) – Sumo Sam @ 4/1 (William Hill)

    A race for the staying fillies’ over the St. Leger distance may seem appealing, but this year’s renewal looks hard to decipher. I’ve gone for those who have stayed the trip well over 14 furlongs, as that covers most of the distance (excluding the half furlong). Sumo Sam fits the brief, winning over said distance last time out in bottomless ground at Goodwood. The soft ground won’t be problem to her and can showcase her talents with Rossa Ryan in the saddle.

    But Night Sparkle also drew my eye in this open looking race. She’s running for the fiest time under Andrew Balding, and a horse moving to a top stable like his should not go unnoticed. She’s three from three, but is markedly stepping up in grade after winning two class three handicaps on the spin. But she’s won with dig in the ground and isn’t without an each-way shout at 8/1 (Betfred).

    The very best of luck!

  • Cheltenham Countdown: Ones to watch at Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster

    Cheltenham Countdown: Ones to watch at Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster

    Not that we’re counting or anything, but just two weekends remain on the countdown to Cheltenham 2023.

    Though some have already plotted and planned their journey to Gloucestershire later this month, for others, this weekend holds the earlier priority.

    Saturday in particular sees action at Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster.

    However, so close to the festival will anything be learnt from Saturday’s three cards?

    We’ve picked out one name to watch from each meeting.

     

    13:50, Kelso, Morebattle Hurdle (Group 2, 4yo+, 2m)

    There is a strong Cheltenham presence on hand in our pick from Kelso, the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle.

    Teddy Blue is our punt in Scotland.

    A sixth run of the season for Gary Moore’s ride since wind surgery, the 5yo was third at 10/1 over the same distance at Newbury last time out.

    Finishing behind Aucunrisque and Filey Bay last month in the Betfair Hurdle however, Jamie Moore rode Teddy Blue to victory in January at Lincoln.

    Moore could jump back into the saddle in favour of Caolin Quinn here and will be looking to impress with his current steep price in the SkyBet Supreme next up.

    Could a 6/1 shot with Ladbrokes and Coral be a tidy earner for punters? We believe it can.

     

    14:45, Newbury, BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup (Group 1, 5yo+, 2m4f)

    Saturday’s sole Group 1 contest in Berkshire comes from the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase and we are turning to Zanza to make it three wins in-a-row at Newbury.

    At the time of writing, none of the seven-strong field are making the trip to Cheltenham but this is nonetheless very competitive.

    In the case of Zanza, the mount of Tom O’Brien came home a hefty 16/1 winner by seven lengths on this very course less than a month back.

    A prior win in front of the Berkshire Stand came in late November, sandwiched by a seventh at Wetherby exactly a month later – won by Ultima Handicap favourite, Into Overdrive.

    To say Zanza has form at Newbury is an understatement and at 11/4 for 5 places with William Hill, has to be worth a decent stake.

     

    15:15, Doncaster, Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (Group 2, 5yo+, 3m2f)

    Our third punt of the weekend comes from South Yorkshire and the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

    Here at BestofBets we prefer to veer from the favourites and look for better value, but Cooper’s Cross does look the choice here.

    The father-son duo of Stuart and Sam Coltherd are currently with two options for Cheltenham: The Ultima or the Magners Plate.

    The latter could carry greater hopes for the Irish 8yo but the trip here could be revealing.

    The journey here is just 1f longer than the Ultima so if the gelding does impress, an about turn could yet be on the cards.

    Cooper’s Cross has happy memories of Doncaster with victory last time out and in total has won half of his contests this term.

    In the last seven outings the horse has come at worst third – with the exception of being pulled up at Sedgefield last January.

    Races in the region of 3m suit Cooper’s Cross and having beaten Cap Du Nord just over a month ago, has the pedigree to come on top.

    And, if we consider a price of 9/4 with PaddyPower for the current pundit’s pick, Cooper’s Cross can deliver.