6.00pm Doncaster Tips & Betting Preview 29/04/2017

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

IN SUMMARY: The booking of Paul Hanagan aboard RUEBENS DREAM really catches the eye and he can land the spoils today. He’s got a lovely pedigree and this yard are capable of sending out fit and ready racecourse debutantes. He’s a fair price in this against some interesting sorts including the expensive Mokhalad who returns to action off a long break as does Gilded Reflection who has some decent form in the book.

1 KENSINGTON PALACE – Had absolutely no chance of catching a runaway winner on debut at Southwell 13-days ago but that form is decidedly average and he has to give away a sizeable weight-for-age allowance to some more appealing rivals today. His trainer has sent out one winner from 11 runners here and he’ll be better suited to handicap company with a bit more experience under his belt.

2 MOKHALAD – Stunning purchase as a yearling costing a cool 500,000GNS. It was therefore disappointing he couldn’t finish any better than eighth of a nine-strong field on debut at Nottingham last May, beaten 13 1/2 lengths. He’s been gelded since and has clearly taken some time to get his act together but better is expected here off a break. He has to give away plenty of weight on today’s terms which is slightly off-putting.

3 RIP N ROAR – Once-raced gelding for the William Haggas yard before being moved to the Tom Clover stable. He was green on debut and the experience looked a bit much for him and he should do better here now dropped in trip with more time to develop. He’s been off the track for 752-days so it’s obviously very tricky to know what to expect today and the market should guide best for the yard’s first runner here.

4 GILDED REFLECTION – Returns to action off a 347-day break and she showed some ability in a few maidens in Ireland. She finished second off a mark of 86 over a mile on her final start of last season in May and she has enough form in the book to win a race of this nature. There should be more to come now returning to action. The market should be insightful for a yard that have sent out one winner from their last 18 runners.

5 AKDAAR – Second runner in this for Hamdan Al Maktoum and he looks like the second string based on jockey bookings. He’s a gelded son of Dubawi and he’s probably required some time to get used to his job, making his appearance in this relatively weak maiden. Roger Varian has been in top form of late (32% strike rate) and he does well here so he’s not completely discounted in this.

6 FIREFRIGHT – 5-race maiden who has shown enough to suggest he’s well-capable of scoring in this company. He was third of nineteen at Doncaster in a valuable race last September and he’s the best treated runner in today’s race based on official ratings. James Doyle is a positive booking and he should strip fitter here following a good run in a Newmarket handicap just under two weeks ago. Respected.

7 FULL TILT LAD – Beaten 25 lengths on debut at Pontefract earlier this month and he’s incredibly hard to fancy here. He steps down markedly in trip from 1m 4f to 7 furlongs and he’s almost certainly one for handicap company further down the line. Tim Easterby has a poor 4% strike rate here (9 winners from 214 runners) and others make much more appeal today.

8 MOUNTAIN ANGEL – Ran two nice enough races on the All-Weather this winter showing progression to finish second of eleven on his latest start. The bare form is average and he will need to improve again off a small break to be competitive here although he has every chance of doing that for a yard that has an excellent 26% strike rate at Doncaster. Harry Bentley rides for the first time.

9 RUBENS DREAM – Expensive purchase, costing a hefty £140,000 as a yearling. He’s a half-brother to a multiple winner over sprint trips and there’s certainly a lot to like about this son of Dutch Art. This trip should be ideal on debut and he remains a colt which is normally positive at this stage of a horses career, especially for a yard that can send out maiden winners. Paul Hanagan is a fascinating booking and he needs close consideration.

10 RULED BY THE MOON – Cheap purchase as a yearling, changing hands for just 2,000GNS. He’s unlikely to strike on debut and will almost certainly need more time and longer trips to be seen to best effect for a stable that don’t send out many maiden winners. Ivan Furtado is without a winner from 19 runners at Doncaster and the stable have been out of form in the past fortnight.

11 ENGLAND EXPECTS – Well-supported on two runs in maiden company for the Karl Burke stable. She’s ultimately fallen short in both races but she has shown more than enough ability to suggest she can be competitive in company such as this. She’s likely to take another step forward today although she will be eligible for handicaps after today. Interesting for a yard with 3 winners from their last 32 runners.

12 MADE OF HONOUR – Had no chance with a runaway winner on debut but she finished behind a subsequent handicap winner that day and the form is strong. She should enter calculations here with normal progression assumed and she certainly looked more forward than many of her rivals that day. She’s likely to be delivered late and she could be dangerous here with a strong pace to aim at.