7.30pm Doncaster Tips & Betting Preview 02/06/2017

Not a lot to go on for this Class Three handicap after just the one running so far but seven furlongs await the fourteen declared runners covered by a total of sixteen pounds between the best and the worst of them according to the official ratings. The draw is hard to assess though high numbers have been coming to the fore in the last few years over the seven furlongs and with over £12,000 to the winner, every little advantage may yet count and have been taken in to account ahead of this race preview.

IN SUMMARY: A very tough handicap to try and call with a long list of possible winners and precious little collateral form to go on. At the prices it may be worth thinking about a small each way bet on BURNT SUGAR who is undoubtedly well weighted on bits and pieces of his best form, and may do ever better stepped back up to the seventh furlong here. Welliesinthewater will make a bold attempt at following up last season’s victory here but has a lot more weight to carry and may have to settle for a place with Gallipoli another with solid chances for Richard Fahey.

Too many horses to give each and every runner the justice they deserve but a select list of those with the best chances be that win or each way seems the most sensible way forward. Last year saw a surprise winner with 22/1 chance Welliesinthewater scoring from the fourteen stall for trainer Derek Shaw with Noel Garbutt claiming five pounds off the winners’ back, and the horse is back to try to retain his crown though this time Danny Tudhope gets the ride. The seven-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand has to carry eleven pounds more this season but has won another three races sine on the Chelmsford all-weather including last time out when seeing off Mount Tahan in a better race when produced inside the last furlong to win going away by three quarters of a length. Up an extra four pounds for that he won’t find this quite as easy perhaps but is well enough drawn in the twelve stall and isn’t out of this by any means.

Looking at each way options and Burnt Sugar was always held in some regard when trained by Richard Hannon and raced at up to Listed level, but after just the two wins from twenty-seven starts he moved yards to Roger Fell in the hope that a change of scenery may refresh his attitude. After three runs that plan is yet to bear fruit but he was only beaten three lengths last time out here at Doncaster over six furlongs despite a lack of room when needed. He was running on late that day and may well do even better back at a furlong further though he yet to win over this trip though he did run a solid fourth at Ascot off a handicap rating a full seventeen pounds higher back in July 2015. Not one to rely on he does look as if he will pop up at a big price at some time this season when found the right race, though whether that will be today is open to question.

At the overnight stage Gallipoli heads the betting for trainer Richard Fahey and jockey Adam McNamara who takes a useful three pounds off his back via his apprentice allowance. A four-year-old son of Compton Place, he won first time out this season at Leicester by a short head and wasn’t disgraced off three pounds higher when a half length second to Aardwolf over course and distance but he does have another two pounds now and may find the handicapper has him in his grasp.

Amy Murphy is yet to become a household name as a trainer but the Newmarket based handler has an intriguing option here in Ghalib who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time this evening. Last time out the five-year-old finished a very promising second to Shaiyem over half a furlong further than this of a mark just the one pound lower. He was eased by Pat Cosgave once beaten that day so ignore the losing distance of a length and a quarter, and as that was only his second run for the yard after leaving Ed Walker there may well be more improvement yet to come. The only issue is that the stable haven’t had a single winner in the last two weeks and just the five runners, and that all of the horses’ wins have been on either softer going or polytrack but there are rains forecast and if they arrive in time, he may yet have an each way chance.

Truth Or Dare is next on the short list for the James Bethell stable and jockey Jamie Spencer after a fourth on his return to action was closely followed by a good third to G K Chesterton over the mile at Newmarket on softer ground. He was beaten three and a quarter lengths that day so his position near the head of the market seems questionable while his fourth first time out saw him finish a length and a quarter behind Gallipoli who he meets on three pounds better terms. That run would give him every chance today but he did fail to improve on it and needs to bounce back for a stable who have had two winners from eleven runners in the last fortnight for an 18% strike rate.

One more horse to mention and Ice Lord has been quietly backed in the early markets and won’t be far away for the likeable Chris Wall stable if he can repeat his second to Ifwecan last time out when only going under by a nose at the rewarding odds of 20/1. Like plenty of the other runners here he has recently changed stables having been in the care of Clive Cox until April this year and with the possibility of further improvement he is yet another who seems likely to go well over a trip he is yet to win over despite numerous places.