Today’s horse racing preview selections come from Doncaster. Will we see history made this afternoon when Aidan O’Brien tries to break the record, he has three entries in the Racing Post renewal, but its been four years since he has saddled the winner of the race and once more the opposition have come with strong contenders.
13.45 Doncaster – Bet Through The Racing Post App Doncaster Stakes (Listed) (6f)
Rebel Assault (109)
Sankari Royale (106)
Red Roman (103)
Despite not being the top rated, Red Roman is actually a god deal better than his mark suggests. Charlie Hills juvenile has picked up two career wins as a juvenile which included a win at this years Goodwood festival when landing a Class 2 handicap in good style, his run behind Rogue whom I do fancy this afternoon on the card when going behind by a short head was far better than when I thought when finishing fourth in two year old trophy at Redcar three weeks ago.
Hugo Palmer get’s the services of Ryan Moore this afternoon on Never Back Down, he finished behind Red Roman at Redcar to three parts of a length and once more I expect the pair to be close up again, especially Red Roman. Now if Sankari Royale brought her Hughes Stakes run to the table she could well be involved here. She went on to run a big race when finishing fourth to double Group 1 winner US Army Flag, the drop down to 5f did not look right in the Cornwallis Stakes, back up to 6f and good ground, 20/1 could be over priced.
The selection represents Mark Johnston, Rebel Assault, who landed this years Rockingham Stakes at York and showed pure determination to hold off the strong challenge of It Don’t Come Easy, back in third was Staxton who would probably find this just on the short side as was doing most of his work late on.
The Rockingham over the years has produced winners of this race, and once more there looks to be a serious filly in Rebel Assault who can land the race in good fashion.
REBEL ASSAULT : 2pt Win @ 7/2 (BOG)
14.20 Doncaster – Scott Dobson Memorial Nursery (7f)
Rogue (90)
Big Les (85)
Zap (81)
Charlie Appleby’s Al Hajar was very impressive when scoring by seven lengths at Redcar, it’s hard to assess that maiden at present, he definitely looks above average and deserves respect, Karen McLintock puts in Big Les here who won a Nursery just under three weeks ago at Pontefract by a length under today’s pilot Graham Lee.
However, the race that showed his true potential was when finishing third to One Minute of Willie Haggas’s who has failed to show any kind of that form since. The runner up though, Abel Handy, has gone on to finish runner up to Sound and Silence in the Julia Graves Stakes and went one better when winning the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes when reversing the Sound and Silence form. The way Big Les won at Pontefract suggests that seven furlongs would probably just be a tad to far for this son of Big Bad Bob.
The selection, Rogue, beat Redcar Listed fourth Red Roman who runs in the first on the card, already gelded, this son of Holy Roman Emperor looks all speed and once more gets the services of Ryan Moore who won on him at Salisbury, the concern is he tends to hang to his left under pressure, but with only a 5lb penalty in tact he should go well again.
ROGUE : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)
15.25 Doncaster – Racing Post Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (8f)
Verbal Dexterity (114)
Roaring Lion (111)
Seahenge (109)
Aidan O’Brien will be going for the record this afternoon when he saddles Coat of Arms (also has a Leopardstown engagement), Saxon Warrior, The Pentagon & Seahenge. Out of the four entries I do think Seahenge looks the more likely to go close. He was seen winning over seven furlongs here around Doncaster when landing the Group 2 Champagne Stakes when beating multiple winner Hey Gaman by the smallest of margins.
The obvious jockey booking of Ryan Moore, who has elected to ride Group 2 Beresford Stakes winner Saxon Warrior, that form took a boost when Riyazan landed the Listed Star Appeal Stakes at Naas, the third, Kew Gardens, has also franked the form by winning the Listed Zetland Stakes in very good style, the sire Deep Impact only won a claimer as a racehorse, but as a sire he has excelled winners all over the world, but at 7/4 Saxon Warrior just might find one two good here.
John Gosden’s stables have hit form again, Roaring Lion comes here unbeaten and could not have been more impressive when landing the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes when beating Nelson by a neck, that formline is very strong with him beating Kew Gardens this year. However, Roaring Lion has been slapped with a Group penalty, in fact he has jumped from 91-112 a staggering 21lb rise for his first attempt at the top level.
With three Irish winners in the last ten years which have all come from Ballydoyle, I feel there is an opportunity for another winner here in Verbal Dexterity who represents Jim Bolger. His reversal when beating Becksford in the Group 1 National Stakes was very eyecatching, I would like to think there will be more to come now stepping up to the 8f, big adversary to all.
VERBAL DEXTERITY : 2pt Win @ 4/1 (BOG)
Good Luck, Bet Responsibly
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