THAT he’s winner of the Kameko Futurity Stakes (Doncaster 2.10) seven times in the last 14 years tells you that Aidan O’Brien normally sends over something pretty useful for this Group One, two-year-old contest over the demanding straight mile.

And with the ground set to be bottomless yet again for the juvenile event, this is sure to be a real grind for these immature event.

But for a change, this time around the Ballydoyle maestro will not have the favourite for this end-of-season contest as Godolphin are set to send one of their top youngsters to Town Moor in the form of Autumn Stakes winner Ancient Wisdom. He skipped willingly clear of Aidan’s Little Big Chief in that Newmarket contest to the tune of an impressive three-and-three-quarter lengths.

The Irish raider could have sent over any one of four improving staying youngsters and has opted for the Diego Velazguez, a game winner of the Champions Two-year-old Stakes at Leopardstown last month when he had to be asked a serious question by Ryan Moore in the closing stages to see off stable mate Capulet who has since run a fair race when a close-up third in the Royal Lodge Stakes in England.

However, there could be some each-way value, if the dead eight entered go to post here, by supporting the New Bay colt, DEVIL’S POINT, at a huge price. Trainer David Menuisier has already struck with his rapidly improving colt in Sunway in the Group One Criterium International at Saint Cloud this autumn I fancy that the selection could well have been underrated by the market place. Winner of a soft ground extended seven furlong maiden at Ffos Las, the third home has gone on to win twice, he was then a closing close up third in the Solario Stakes at Sandown park followed by a late running fourth in the Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie, a Group Three over a mile at Saint Cloud.

If the field make this a solid pace up front, there is little doubt that this stamina laden youngster will be closing down his rivals on the run to the final furlong and I expect him to hit the three at the very least and possibly land the gold medal for his in-form handler.

As per normal the rest of the Doncaster card looks hugely competitive, but I shall be having a lumpy each-way wager on the nine-year-old COPPER KNIGHT in the valuable five furlong handicap due off at 3.20. As you probably know, York is more his preserve down through the years, but form figures of 42140 entitle him to plenty of respect here and his handicap mark of 79 means that he is now only one pound higher than for his last career success at Pontefract in July, a win that I can readily upgrade as the ground was barely soft enough for him on that occasion.

Of his rivals, fellow veteran and bottom weight Count D’Orsay looks sure to run well, while further up the saddle cloth numbers I also have the highest regard for the three-year-old The Ridler, down in grade and distance for Richard Fahey and still open to more improvement and the Goodwood Steward’s Cup hero Aberama Gold who was far from disgraced in a hot class two event at York last time out.

At the back end of the card, it may well be worth having a second look at another old boy, DANZAN in a tough looking seven-furlong handicap at 4.25. The now eight-year-old looks temptingly well treated on a mark of 78 and may well get loose on the lead here.

DEPUTY looks sure to relish the hock-deep ground in the 4.58, while I shall also be having an investment in CHALLET in the finale at 5.28. The handicapper finds it difficult to drop the last named handicapper because of his terrific consistency, but his second at Ripon last time out suggests his time is just around the corner and the son of Clodovil may just get the better of the likes of Dark Side Thunder and the frustrating Ring of Gold.

Over at Cheltenham they offer up their opening leg of the National Hunt season at the Prestbury Park track and I fancy an absolutely massive run from KINONDO KWETU off top weight of 12 stone and a mark of 145 in the extended three-mile William Hill Handicap Chase at 2.25. I think that Sam England’s charge could have the chance of making up into a graded performer this season and I am taking him to reverse Summer Cup Chase form with Twig on 5lbs better terms for being beaten three and three quarter lengths in the valuable Uttoxeter contest.

There is a huge field of 22 set to go to post for the Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier at 3.00 and you could argue a pretty solid case for at least 10 of them on their best form. But in the end I came out on the side of the lightly raced HYLAND, who has won three of his 11 starts under rules. The Nicky Henderson-trained stayer eased to victory in a class three event at Warwick at the beginning of the month and back over this extra three furlongs he may be able to defy a 6lbs penalty at the main expense of the equally progressive Judicial Law.

It is a big day at Kelso with the Grand National hero, Corach Rambler, setting off on the road to the Betfair Chase and possibly longer term, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, when he takes in the Listed Edinburgh Gin Chase at 129. He will have to go close to defying a mark of 159 here to give credit to those big targets later in the season. However, I think the play here has to be EMPIRE STEEL who absolutely loves it around the Borders’ track and can make the most of the 16lbs he is set to receive from the Lucinda Russell Aintree hero.