There is rain forecast at Doncaster overnight and during racing on Thursday and it is possible that conditions will deteriorate from the mix of good and good to soft at the time of writing on Wednesday morning.
2.00 Doncaster
Cold Case finished third in the Gimcrack last time and has long been considered the yard’s best juvenile. The Mill Reef was immediately nominated as his next target post York but the huge prize on offer in the latest in too long a line of valuable 2-y-old sales’ races has led to a change of heart by connections. He is a worthy market leader.
Eminency was flattered to beat Chartwell House at Windsor last time, but this has long been the plan. On good or faster ground, I would be sweet on the chance of MAGICAL SUNSET and have been looking forward to seeing her back on track since she beat Sakheer at Windsor at odds of 14/1 on debut.
That form was given a boost when the winner hosed up at Haydock last week and he is a genuine group colt. The SP of the winner suggested connections were not expecting a great deal of the filly on debut and plenty of the yard’s juveniles improve greatly for their initial experience.
The selection is entered in several of the big races in the next month over six and seven furlongs and she gets a narrow vote. Sean Levey takes over in the plate – no Racing League for him this week – for Amo Racing following the sacking of Rossa Ryan. Ryan will not be the last trainer or jockey to fall foul of connections.
Recommendation: Magical Sunset EW at 4/1 with Boylesports 4 places
3.10 Doncaster
With the Roger Varian yard flying at present, I am loath to overlook Eshaada, but I was underwhelmed by her run in the Lancashire Oaks last time when easily brushed aside by Free Wind and she is unproven at this extended 1m 6f trip. She deserves to head the market but 6/4 is too short given Urban Artist is likely to ensure a true test.
Urban Artist finished runner up at Goodwood behind Sea La Rosa and any further rain would suit. She had YESYES behind in Sussex last time, but I hope to see Ralph Beckett’s filly – who was making her seasonal reappearance – improve past Hughie Morrison’s 7-y-old with that run under her belt.
Beckett has a great record with fillies and, after just seven career starts, Yesyes remains open to further improvement. Third in the corresponding race 12 months ago behind Free Wind, proven with plenty of cut in the ground she gets a narrow vote in what is a terrific renewal of the Park Hill with seven of the octet holding realistic claims.
Recommendation: Yesyes at 7/2 with BetVictor
1.40 Epsom
HODLER has only raced once on soft ground and that resulted in a win at Goodwood last July and going around a right-hand bend clearly suits as he won at Sandown on his penultimate start from a 4lbs lower mark.
This will be his first race around a left-hand bend for Jim Boyle, but he is unbeaten in two starts under Ryan Sexton and he gets the each way vote in a hot 7f handicap.
Recommendation: Hodler EW at 8/1 with William Hill
3.25 Epsom
I remember being convinced EDINBURGH ROCK was potentially very well treated and I was not on my Robinson Crusoe as he was backed off the boards. For much of the race he travelled like the best horse in the race but faded close home and was beaten just over a length into second.
Ralph Beckett fits his gelded son of Highland Reel with first time blinkers this afternoon as he returns from a 10-week lay-off. The selection can race from the same mark this afternoonand John Egan gets a rare ride for the yard. There are mixed messages on breeding as to whether a mile-and-a-half stretches his stamina, but I do feel there are races to be won with the gelding off his current mark.
Recommendation: Edinburgh Rock at 11/4 with William Hill
8.45 Southwell
Equality carries top-weight of 9st 12lbs but has been raised 4lbs from the weekend having looked an unlucky loser when runner up at Windsor in the Racing League last week. He is unbeaten on tapeta having won a Wolverhampton Novice by 9L last April and could easily go one better with Danny Muscott taking over from Marco Ghiani.
He is drawn in the centre of the track in stall in stall two, however, and the each way alternative is THE THIN BLUE LINE drawn nearer the stands’ rail in stall ten.
The each way selection is a C&D winner and is only 1lb higher than when scoring at Musselburgh back in the spring. Andrew Mullen takes over in the saddle for the first time on the 4-y-old who met trouble in running at Sandown last time and should be marked up for the run. He will need luck in running given he is likely to be outpaced in the first couple of furlongs, but the hope is that he can finish faster than most.
Recommendation: The Thin Blue Line EW at 10/1 with 10Bet 4 places
