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WITH the weather set fair up and down the country, it is nice to know as a pundit exactly the going we can expect at race tracks on a premier Saturday of racing. Doncaster’s turf description for the final grass meeting of the season is currently soft as I write this and good to soft in places may also sneak into that title by Saturday afternoon.
The big race itself at 3.45 looks wide open as per normal. I have actually backed two horses ante-post in the form of CHILLINGHAM and MASTER BUILDER.
The former has run consistently well all season without grabbing a gold medal, but as a consequence the handicapper has found it hard to drop him to a more viable mark. But that still means that you can also set his clock by him, and I find it hard to see him out of the five, the number of places most bookmakers will be offering this afternoon.
Master Builder I am sure will be pushing Valvano for market leadership before the start of this mile-and-a-half event, both horses being unexposed three-year-olds. I just feel that my choice will relish this slog through what will be sticky ground that little bit more here and as I pen this piece the 8/1 available looks like an each-way punt to nothing.
Of the big outsiders in the marketplace, I have the most regard for Adjuvant, who comes here relatively fresh compared to the majority of his rivals and is set to run off his lowest handicap mark since a cracking third in the 2023 Melrose Handicap at the York Ebor meeting. If he is fit and ready to go after 168 days off the track, then he could give 3lbs claimer Wayne Hassett a massive ride.
Of course a lot will depend on how sticky/soft the ground will ride this afternoon, but it will be plenty hard enough to get through as the Town Moor track does retain juice and that should suit TEN BOB TONY in the Listed Wentworth Stakes at 1.20 when his guaranteed stamina will come into play.
The three-year-old has been racing up to a mile this season and this will be his first start at six furlongs since his debut in August of last year, when he finished five lengths off Persica at Salisbury. He has shown plenty of speed over seven furlongs on his last two starts, the second of which was in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. The youngster gets the nod ahead of Room Service and course and distance winner Zoum Zoum.
Off a handicap mark of 72, I expect that there will be some money for Educate who will appreciate the ground in the opening apprentices handicap that opens the card at 12.15, but I can’t turn my back on LOOK BACK SMILING. The Gemma Tutty-trained charge has been given a real chance by the handicapper, having dropped from a rating from 89 to 78 here, and with a fast pace guaranteed on what looks his easiest task for a long time, he has to be the pick.
Later on, ADMIRAL D (2.35) can land a long overdue win in this class two, six-furlong handicap from the foot of the weights. He showed his turn was just around the corner when second at Haydock Park, and with 7lbs claimer Warren Fentiman on board, he is now set to race off a career low mark of just 74 — he was rated as high as 85 this time 12 months ago.
DANIELLE (3.10) has been kept busy by the Gosdens this season, but she has the class to win the Listed Gillies Fillies’ Stakes. The much lighter-raced pair, Estrange and Treasure, are feared most of all. The last named is rated 10lbs plus behind the best of these, but was considered a classy sort last year when she ran in the Epsom Oaks and judged on her comeback run at Newmarket, I fancy she will relish this challenge.
Over the sticks at Wincanton, ground bordering on good to firm will be the order of the day and that should suit last year’s sixth, Forward Plan, in the 63rd running of the Handicap Chase at 3.30. However, he does have a bad mistake in him and so preference is for the very well-backed LORD ACCORD (nap) who will bounce off this ground. He was second to the mighty Frodon in this race in 2022 off a rating of 136, and gets to run just 128 here off the back of wins over the course and distance and a runaway win at Sedgefield over hurdles.
The Grade Two Elite Hurdle doesn’t really look up to scratch this year and offers an outstanding chance for RUBAUD (2.55) to follow up his fluent win at Kempton Park first time out. The Rising Stars Novice Chase (2.23) has been won by some outstanding young chasers in the past, but this year’s doesn’t really have an unexposed star in the field of five. In a wide open race I have come down in the side of SOUL ICON. He looked a shade unlucky to be touched off by Sure Touch in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen, and can finally get off the mark over fences at the eighth time of asking, having been placed on five occasions.
We have the first sighters of the Grand National fences at Aintree this afternoon in the Grand Sefton Steeplechase at 2.40. Authorized Art could go well under top weight with Caoilin Quinn taking three pounds off his back, but in receipt of 23lbs I fancy a massive run from light weight VINTAGE FIZZ. The seven-year-old has been running consistently well throughout 2024 and any further drying of the ground on Merseyside will be a huge plus for him. Placed in this race before, Percussion should go well, while Grand National 12th Latenightpass is also a danger, having had a wind operation since then.
Finally, have a second look at Kelso where I have a couple of fancies in the form of HARPER VALLEY (12.07) and WATCH LAW off top weight in the Cab On Target Qualifier at 1.15.
