3.35pm Doncaster tips for Friday’s Class 2 race. A maximum field of twenty-two chasing the first prize of £12,450 in a wide open looking sprint handicap. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.
IN SUMMARY: NAADIRR has slipped a long way in the weights this season, but a return to Doncaster where he has won two of his three career starts, could be enough to waken him from his slumber. Outback Traveller is another who has spent some time in the wilderness but he looked to be returning to form last time out which makes him dangerous off this mark. These races bring out the best in George Bowen who loves a strong pace to chase, while Captain Colby is another – who like the selection – enjoys his racing on Town Moor.
1 SHANGHAI GLORY – Rapidly progressive last season, he has been inconsistent this time round. Boasts a strong each way chance on both his fifth in the Stewards’ Cup and third in the Great St Wilfred if able to reproduce those.
2 FLYING PURSUIT – Progressed up the handicap once more this season, winning twice. He is worse off for an effort behind Shanghai Glory in the Great St Wilfred at Ripon so he has to up his game further still if he is to win this.
3 AEOLUS – Winner of a Group 3 two years back, he ran a huge race when fitted with cheekpieces for the first time in the Stewards’ Cup. They have failed to work the same way the last twice so no surprise to see them removed. Each way chance from a workable mark.
4 AL QAHWA – Horribly inconsistent this season, his best coming on soft ground. Needs a little more rain but first time blinkers being employed by connections are interesting from a mark within his capabilities.
5 OUTBACK TRAVELLER – Winner of the Wokingham last season, he had shown little since until last time at York. He was behind Flying Pursuit there but he will appreciate this slightly stiffer track and if that was a warning he is coming back to form, he has a solid each way chance.
6 HYPERFOCUS – Improved chunks for being gelded and encountering soft ground. His recent wins have both come at Haydock, where the ground was far worse than he will encounter here. Still deserving of respect given his rate of progression, but this will require more.
7 PERFECT PASTURE – Struggled since landing a Listed contest at Windsor on his seasonal return. He has fallen to a tempting mark given his disappointing efforts since – but with conditions to suit – he is no back number.
8 BOY IN THE BAR – Bounced right back to form at Newcastle on Tuesday, digging deep to get his head back in front. This mark has proved beyond him on turf thus far so despite the return to better form, he is taken on.
9 KICKBOXER – More than three years since he won at this trip, he has been below par since making a winning return at Thirsk. A first time visor may spark him back into life, but he is easy enough to oppose here.
10 NAGGERS – Struggled badly for form since runner-up on Derby Day. He is back to that mark now and won’t mind any cut in the ground but the percentage call is to take him on given what he has produced of late, even when conditions are in his favour.
11 MOBSTA – Smart in his youth including a pair of wins at this track. Wouldn’t want the ground to dry more but this mark suggests he is thrown in if ever able to find his old form. Showed a little more at Listed level two runs back but his recent handicap runs have been poor.
12 HOOF IT – Veteran still has speed in his legs, a pair of smart August runs sandwiched by a pair of lesser efforts. He was behind a number of these at York last time so needs to up his game to reverse the placings. but he is well treated on his best form.
13 ROBERO – Tried at different trips this season but both wins have come at this six furlongs. All ground comes alike so he will have no issues with prevailing conditions. Is three pounds above his highest winning mark which came in a Class 3 so he needs more.
14 BIG TIME – Last win came in a claimer, he has struggled badly on turf this campaign. Placed from a pound higher last season but the percentage call is to oppose on his 2017 offerings.
15 GO FAR – Twice placed on quicker ground in May, he hasn’t been quite the same since. Has dropped to a workable level, but any cut remaining in the ground tempers confidence in his chances.
16 NAADIRR – Formerly smart, he is twice a winner from three starts at this track. Has regressed quicker than the handicapper has been able to drop him this season, but his first run at Doncaster since a July 2016 win makes him very tempting at a big price.
17 RED PIKE – Won over this course and distance in August 2015 from three pounds higher. Has shown some solid placed form since but has been unable to get his head back in front. Needs the ground to dry out a little more to maximise his chances.
18 GUNMETAL – Impressive Newmarket winner at the Craven meeting, he’s struggled badly in four runs since. Has never done his best work in big fields so is passed over.
19 GEORGE BOWEN – Winner of a myracing.com sponsored race at Nottingham in June, he has often promised more than he has delivered. A strong pace to deliver him off suits perfectly and has won off similar in the past, each way squeak.
20 DOUGAN – 0/15 on turf, he has failed to take advantage of easier opportunities this season. He has placed on all three visits to this track so despite not being an obvious win prospect, he needs considering with conditions to suit.
21 HIGHLAND ACCLAIM – Last three wins have all come at Epsom at a much lower level. Placed just once in his last fourteen starts when his handicap mark has been over ninety, he is easy to oppose.
22 CAPTAIN COLBY – Has run well all three visits to the track, most recently when only missing out on a place by half a length. Two pounds lower now with conditions to suit, he may well outrun his price.