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Preview
11 April 2008
4.25 Doncaster Sprint Handicap
Class 3 6F Good to soft
1. Fyodor – A open looking handicap in which Fyodor who is
capable at this level heads the weight and may well struggle to
concede weight to some promising sprinters. Exposed like most in
this handicap he has good recent form over six furlongs based on his
all weather runs and even though he looks in the grip of the
handicapper on return to the turf he is a sprinter that is in good
health with himself at present. The ground has to be regarded as a
unknown quantity with it slightly on the easy side and his chances
will improve if it continues to dry out.
My rating – 105
2. Damikia – landed a shock win last season in a similar race to
this when winning at 50-1 at Head quarters and now looks to be well
in the grip of the handicapper with improvement required to win of
this sprint mark on seasonal return. Suited by these types of track
he is exposed under today’s conditions and from the top of the
weights could well struggle against improvers to hold hi own on
ground that may not totally be to his benefit. The drop to six
furlongs shouldn’t be a problem.
My rating – 105
3. Pusey Street Lady – Conditions turned in her favour last time
here and she made light work of her opponents that day running out a
clear-cut winner in the mud. A repeat performance may well have her
going in again here even though the handicapper has had his say with
a 10lbs hike in the weights and that may well just slow her up here
with very little improvement likely to be left in her. The ground
has maybe become to quick for her underfoot at this level but she
has got the recent form in the book and may still have enough to go
close.
My Rating – 106
4. Barney Mcgrew – Another returning for the season and this
horse done nothing but progressed last season and the last run has
to be regarded as slightly disappointing from a form point of view
as he was easily beaten off over course and distance. Suited to
ground with some juice in it he should have conditions ideal
underfoot and six furlongs isn’t a problem as he travels so well.
The big Field may help him as well and with improvement still to
come from this horse in sprints he may well go close to defying the
mark of seasonal reappearance.
My Rating – 104
5. Turnkey – Dandy Nichols has started the season well already
winning a nice sprint up at Musselburgh and he has laid out quite a
strong team for this sprint today with Turnkey looking very well
handicapped in the make up of this race. Well exposed these days he
deserves respect in a class 3 handicaps given some of the form he
has shown in the past and even though not reaching those dizzy
heights anymore he is more then capable of landing one of these.
Track and ground suits and goes well in the spring he has to
regarded as one of the leading players in this handicap even though
I would like to see him unleashed in a five furlong dash again.
Recent form is only moderate but would you discount him bouncing
back to form.
My rating – 105
6. Special Day – Barry Hills is often a trainer to follow early
season and his filly is an interesting run in this race today. She
hasn’t been over burdened in sprint handicaps and remains very
lightly raced for her type and with improvement very much likely she
should be in the shake up in this handicap today, as she looks
weighted to go close. The slight ease in the ground may be some
concern to connections as she has gone so well on better ground then
this, but she has got decent form in the book and goes well fresh
and in the spring.
My Rating – 110
7. Ice Planet – Often seen to good effect in big handicaps such
as this for Dandy Nichols and may well run a big race once again
with the course being ideal for him, However he has often skinned a
lot fitter for the run and could well be needing this today in a
ultra competitive handicap. The slight ease isn’t ideal underfoot
but shouldn’t be to much of a problem as the horse handles most
ground and he is certainly one to note for the height of summer when
he is campaigned to pick up his main source of income as he is well
weighted at this level at present.
My rating – 105
8. Cape – Side stepped the race here the other week after
conditions went against her and her new trainer is likely to
continue the non risking of her like the top yard she left did. Very
lightly raced she gets on very well with her pilot today and has to
be of interest even though her new trainer isn’t as high profiled as
the last. Best striked with early season she may want the ground to
dry out further then it current state and with the sun out it is
possible that a race in the near future could be ideal for her. The
course is more then ideal and they do seem keen to get a race into
her here.
My Rating – 114
9. Southandwest – Didn’t really sparkle last season and is on a
bit of a losing run at present, but there is some light at the end
of the tunnel with the run against Genki proving to look a solid
piece of form and he could well break his long losing run sooner
then later. Still quite lightly raced he could really benefit for
the ease in the ground today and may find enough improvement to have
a chance at this level with the straight flat six furlongs more then
ideal. Fitness no problems and loves it at this time of year.
My Rating – 107
10. Baby Strange – Top class horse at 2yo and lost his way with
injury missing the whole of last season. Didn’t show much on return
to the track and the run at Donnie last time wasn’t inspiring enough
to think he can turn the table with his victor even though a stone
in weight should help. On the down grade from his early years and is
best watched until showing some sort of form. Has a fair few things
in favour for that to happen today and is one to make note off.
My rating – 108
11. Bo Mcginity – A grand old sprinter who has more miles on the
clock then most and has been a great servant to connections. Sure to
win races this season with the guidance of Richard Fahey he is
certainly on the downgrade from top handicap sprints and may need a
few more lbs shed before going in again. This looks another run to
get him handicapped and he is sure to have better races in him soon
enough.
My Rating – 103
12. Ellen’s Academy – A grand old horse who has nearly brought up
the 100 not out mark which the 13yo should do at some point this
season and clearly is in the down grade stage of his career. A
testament to connections who has kept here in training she loves
handicaps at these sort of tracks and the old head knows how to
tackle big field handicaps. Hopefully she can run a big race but she
will most probably need the run on ground that may be not as quick
as he prefers.
My Rating – 104
13. Tajneed – was a good horse at first for Dermot Weld and kind
of lost his way which has ended up with him being sold on the cheap
to Dandy Nichols yard and it would be no surprise to see the sprint
king find the key with this horse having started him of here today
over his favoured trip. The ground should be ideal and he rates as
interesting in this race even if needing to be turned around.
My rating – 104
14. Bel Cantor – Providing conditions don’t improve too much Bel
Cantor could take some pegging back on this surface on a flat track
and as it stands has plenty in his favour for a big run today. Very
consistent at this level he seems to have peaked and started to
regress from his best days back in the middle of summer last year.
Should be fit to go at the first time of asking on return to turf
after recent runs on the all weather he needs to bounce back to form
to have claims of winning again in this company. Smaller fields
often are more suited to his running type.
My Rating – 100
15. Charles Darwin – Suffered for t he bad form of the yard last
term and its to be seen if they have turned the corner with him
coming into this race much lower then the mark he started of 12
months ago. Well beaten by Ellen’s Academy here on the last run we
saw him in he could well be handicapped to win this if the stable
have overcome their problems. Often needs the run that should be
taken into account as he gets better as the season progressed, but
this should be one watched closely to see if the yard are on the
mend as he has ideal conditions for today.
My Rating – 97
16. He’s a humbug – Beat south and west around this time last
year by 1L and never really recovered from the tasks he was then set
through out the season and did show some un-genuine traits so is
certainly one to have some reservations about. Should be handicapped
to go well in this given the low weight and is possible that there
is further improvement to come from the horse who has good form this
time of year. Failed on only start on ground with cut in.
My Rating – 106
17. Tudor Prince – won a low grade sprint on last run of the
season and took a while to get on top in that race and may well be
up against it here today from out of the handicap by a 1lb. The
claimer on board will offset that though and he had achieved better
races then that one at Yarmouth. Low weight is bound to help the
horse and he did it a shade easier then maybe it looked with Philip
Robinson producing the horse at the right time. Has no real
improvement in him and quite exposed the main concern has to be the
ground under foot for him today, as he hasn’t liked this in between
conditions in the past. Often needs the run.
My Rating – 108
18. Mr Wolf – On the down grade since regally winning races such
as this and this free going front runner may have just had enough of
the racing game these days having shown precious little. However he
is very well handicapped if you take his old form and given how far
he has dropped and the fact he is out of the handicap today by 3lbs
I have him in mind for a class 4 handicaps or a weaker race then
this at this level. Has much in favour but looks plotted out for a
race maybe at his favoured track of ponte.
My Rating – 91
Tissue prices – Cape 3/1, Special Day 6/1, Tudor Prince, Baby
Strange 9/1, Southandwest 10/1, He’s a Humbug, Pussey Street Lady
12/1, Turnkey, Fyodor, Damikia, Ice Planet 14/1, Ellen’s Academy,
Barney’s Mcgrew, Tajneed 16/1, Bo Mcginity 20/1, Bel Cantor 22/1,
Charles Darwin 25/1, Mr Wolf 33/1.
Verdict – What
looks to be a open handicap could well fall in to a two horse race
between two of the fillies in the race and they look to be very well
handicapped against quite a few that have one or two question marks
or are just not well handicapped in the make up of this race. Tudor
Prince at the foot of the weights may give them the most to do and
is best priced 16-1 on this return to the track and Baby Strange a
former grade 2 winner may well be worth giving one last chance to in
the hope that he still retains the ability he showed as a 2yo, he is
best priced at 28-1 which is more then big enough for his chance and
could be the way forward if you don’t mind taking the risk. Special
Day is likely to give the favourite Cape the most to worry about
here and her price of 10-1 is more then fair. Cape is the favourite
and deserves to be as she is very nicely handicapped on her form to
take a race that wouldn’t have been considered for her if still at a
top yard, she is best priced at 7-2.
Selection –
Special Day 2pts win @ 10-1 (13’sBF) +
Cape 1pt win @ 7-2 (BF4’s)
Well Chief
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