3.35pm Doncaster Tips & Betting Preview 07/07/2017

Very little separates the field at the weights in a tight knit conditions race over seven furlongs. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview for the 3.35pm at Doncaster.

IN SUMMARY: SUN LOVER looks like a potential improver for the red hot yard of Roger Varian. He was held up in a race with no pace at York last time, doing well to get up for second, showing that given the right conditions, he can rate considerably higher, especially in a race full of primarily exposed rivals. Takatul is interesting proving the drop in trip isn’t to much for him, while Toofi heading the other way in trip is also interesting having been eye-catching of late.

1 BERTIEWHITTLE – Consistent type but has a poor strike rate, winning just five times from seventy seven starts. He has placed five times from ten starts at Doncaster and will have no issues with prevalent conditions. Jane Elliott takes five pounds off, which if taken into consideration make him the one to beat at the weights but he needs to step up on what he has done this season to figure.

2 BURNT SUGAR – Impressive when winning over course and distance on very soft ground at the start of June. Less effective twice since on quicker ground so it will be interesting to see how much of the forecast rain showers hit the track to help his chances. That win was his first on turf on his twenty eighth start, so isn’t one to trust implicitly even if conditions do come in his favour.

3 CLAIM THE ROSES –  Better known as an all weather horse but is capable on turf as he showed at Yarmouth last September when runner up over this trip on good to firm. He tends to get going too late in the day in his races, so the harder they go in front the better for him. More is going to be needed on the balance of his form to score.

4 CLASSIC SENIORITY – Enjoyed a profitable 2016, notching four wins. He looked like he is still capable of winning even with his inflated mark last time out at York when behind Sun Lover. He is four pounds better off with that rival here but he is far more exposed and may struggle to reverse the places even with the weights in his favour.

5 ELTEZAM – Dropped half a stone in the weights since not beaten far at Goodwood three runs ago, comfortably seen off twice since on much softer ground. He showed smart form as a juvenile, mixing it with the likes of Buratino and Shalaa but missed the entirety of his three year old campaign. There have been flashes this season (as at Goodwood) that the ability is retained, of interest providing there isn’t too much rain.

6 GHALIB – Jekyll and Hyde character, prone to throw in the odd dismal effort as he did last time behind Burnt Sugar. The ground will have been no excuse then so perhaps he resented the first time cheekpieces. Competitive in better contests than this in the past, he would go close on a going day, but is hard to trust to know when those will be.

7 GOTHIC EMPIRE – Rounded out his 2016 campaign with a smart win at Ascot over this trip, but was well behind a few of these last time, notably Sun Lover and Classic Seniority. This should be too competitive for him, in a race where there are some unexposed types to progress beyond what he has achieved.

8 LEFORTOVO – Twice a winner in France, both occasions over a mile. He ran well to a point at Newcatle on his only run in the U.K this season (better form shown in France) and is going to need the first time cheekpieces to have a positive effect to trouble the principals. Would have a better chance if there is plenty of rainfall.

9 QEYAADAH – Landed a nice touch when we tipped him up at Redcar last time out. That was over this trip on fast ground but just a two pound rise for winning that leaves him four pounds shy of the ceiling for this contest. Has rated higher in the past, but will need a step forward to get his head in front again. Also entered at Epsom on Thursday evening.

10 STAMP HILL – The second of three runners sporting first time headgear, he has struggled since landing a course and distance handicap last September. That – like all his best form – came with plenty of cut in the ground so connections will be hoping that the threat of rain becomes a reality. Difficult to support unless the ground significantly softens.

11 SUN LOVER – Four year old has only made it to the track five times in his career, benefiting from a step into handicap company and having been gelded when runner up at York last time. He is four pounds worse off with the third (Classic Seniority) but given his unexposed profile, it would be disappointing if he couldn’t confirm those positions. He was held up in that York race, a contest that turned into a sprint so that effort can be marked up, he could take some stopping for the red hot Roger Varian yard.

12 TAKATUL – A beaten favourite three times already in an eight race career, connections reach for blinkers in a bid to sharpen him up. The ability is there, as he showed winning a decent handicap at Lingfield in late April, but that was over a mile and the step down in trip is not guaranteed to suit him.

13 TOOFI – Has made eye-catching late progress on a number of occasions this season, to suggest that he is well capable of winning from his current mark in a handicap. Has a bit to prove that this trip suits as well as six furlongs does, but he is worth keeping an eye on as he will pop up at a big price in a big field handicap sooner rather than later.

14 HAVRE DE PAIX – The sole mare in the field, she has struggled in a pair of far deeper races so far in 2017. Her only win came in a Chelmsford maiden but the best of her turf form has come on soft ground in France over further, Plenty enough to prove under the likely conditions here to pass her over with ease.