2.15pm Doncaster Tips & Betting Preview 02/04/2017

This is a competitive maiden over 7 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: It’s notable that Saeed bin Suroor gets a son of Dubawi out so early in the season and BENBATL can make a winning debut. He’s got a lovely pedigree and he should be ready on debut for a yard that have an excellent 25% strike rate here. Natajack will give him the most to think about with racecourse experience to his name whilst Made Of Honour is worth a second look in the betting.

1 AELIUS – 85,000GNS purchase as a foal and this Seopy gelding has taken a little time to find his feet find in two maidens to date. He was beaten by roughly 7 lengths on both his starts to date but they came in much better maidens than this (Class 3) and were hotly contested. He will find this much easier now dropped in grade but this is his first run off a layoff and he may be seen to better effect in handicaps.

2 BENBATL – Saeed bin Suroor has an excellent strike rate with his runners at Doncaster (25%, 19 winners from 76 runners) and he runs a Dubawi colt in this. On breeding alone, he jumps off the paper as the son of a super stallion and 7 furlongs on the turf should be a good starting point for him. Josephine Gordon is booked and he’s one to watch very closely in the betting.

3 BOB MAXWELL – 19,000GNS purchase as a yearling and he’s related to a couple of winners over a similar sort of trip. He doesn’t stand out particularly on breeding and he will probably want further than this (by Big Bad Bob) and his trainer has been a bit hit and miss of late with just one winner from 12 runners. He’s best watched on debut.

4 EBURACI – This Vale Of York colt was picked up for 21,000GNS as a yearling and he made a modest start to his career at Salisbury last Autumn. He was ridden out the back that day and he stayed on quite nicely to pick up fourth and there should be more to come with that experience under his belt. This yard can get one ready off a break although Charlie Fellowes record at Doncaster is poor with just one win from 13 runners.

5 JEWEL HOUSE – Lovely Dubawi mare whose dam was a winner over 1m 2f. There was plenty of money around for him on his last start when he was beaten a neck by a forward-looking type and he showed that day he’s up to winning a race of this nature. It’s a small surprise to see him dropped back in trip having looked to enjoy the extended mile at Windsor but master trainer John Gosden has been in good recent form (25% strike rate last 14 days) and he should be right there in the finish.

6 KAESO – Related to a few decent enough types but he’s found life very tough in two maidens to date including over C&D. He’s been sent off at 66/1 and 100/1 and has been beaten by double figure distances his last twice, it’s unlikely to be a different story today with some nicer types in the field. He may be one for handicaps further down the line and is avoided today.

7 MR SKINNYLEGS – Once-raced gelding who wasn’t disgraced on debut in a much better maiden than this at York. He weakened towards the finish having been up near the pace and he should find this task a lot easier today with that experience under his belt. His trainer does have a poor record at Doncaster (just 8 wins from 137 runners) and others make more appeal.

8 NATAJACK – 40,000GNS 2yo who showed more than enough potential on debut to suggest he’s in with a decent chance today. He was beaten a neck in a Class 4 maiden at Newbury and the winner was subsequently tried in a Group Three which shows the regard they hold him in. He should improve a lot for that experience and this Showcasing colt will love the 7 furlong trip. Respected.

9 NEW TALE – Out of a mare who has produced a couple of nice types over slightly further. There are slight concerns on paper having been bought for 72,000GNS as a yearling and then sold on for only 20,000GNS as a 2yo which is generally a warning flag. This is his trainers fourth runner here and it’s unlikely to be a winning one.

10 OREGON POINT – Tim Easterby has a poor record here (9 winners from 208 runners, 4% strike rate) and this debutante is unlikely to improve that record. He was purchased for 14,000GNS and is a son of Cape Blanco so he will probably end up wanting further than this and he’s out of a decent enough mare (top Official Rating was 90). Best watched here.

11 ROCK ISLAND LINE – By a Guineas winner (Haafhd) and out of a mare who won once over 7 furlongs at Carlisle. His trainer is without a win from 29 runners here at Doncaster and he’s another that will probably be better suited to handicap company further down the line.

12 MADE OF HONOUR – £26,000 yearling and a daughter of Casamento. She’s the only filly in the race and receives 5lbs from her rivals today although she may be up against it here if there are any forward 2yos. Her trainer can get one ready and he’s been in excellent recent form with 3 winners from his last 9 runners. She deserves a market check here over what should be an ideal trip.