Dave Massey is back with his Friday Best Bets.
14:25 Doncaster – Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes 5f
The last three winners of this, Revival Power, Aesterius and Big Evs, all had blazing early speed and if Carry The Flag shows the same speed he did at Deauville when second to Senorita Bonita in the G1 Prix Morny he might prove hard to catch. He was only worn down in the final half-furlong there after going well clear two furlongs out and he does look an out-and-out five furlong horse. It’s not hard to argue that, as a pacemaker that day, the effort is a bit of a fluke, but you can’t argue with the form (or the timefigure) and this does not look like the toughest Group 2 to win.
15:00 Doncaster – Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes 2m2f
As much as I’m a massive fan of Caballo De Mar, I couldn’t be touching him after another weak finish in the Lonsdale Cup last time; he tied up drastically in the last half-furlong, walking over the line in fourth after looking booked for second. Blinkers and a tongue-tie are now reached for, but if they thought it was his wind, I’m surprised they haven’t gone for surgery, and I’m not sure where the blinkers come from, that didn’t look like the problem. Heat stress was blamed for the tailed-off effort in the Ascot Gold Cup the time before and I’d rather place lay him short than back him for the win. Yes, the form is there to win this – the Cadran win in France last year is more than good enough – but that’s not the same horse we’ve seen in his last two.
You can tell this is weak by the fact a few handicappers try their luck here, and last year’s Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi easily makes most appeal of them; tough, reliable, proven over the trip and a good record at Doncaster is the icing on the cake, twice a winner here and second in the Mallard last year, beaten half a length. You need the dead eight to stand up, but he looks the each-way bet of the race to me.
16:45 Doncaster – Tanbry Construction Nursery Handicap 6f
One more chance for Launch Sequence, who I loved pre-race at Goodwood and he ran a cracking race to be third to Agrippa there (fourth Final Objective, also in the Wathnan ownership, runner-up to Arapaho Gold in the Gimcrack, fifth Washington Royale (also in here today) won a Chepstow maiden by 4¾ lengths next start, it’s good form) but York last time was a let-down, some pre-race antics not helping and he could only finish sixth in the Convivial. On goes some headgear, which I’m hoping will help the situation, as a mark of 85 is surely begging to be taken advantage of if they get him right. Karl Burke continues in great form and stall 7 looks ideal.
17:20 Doncaster – Pertemps Network Handicap 1m2f
Something Splendid won a division of this last year and is only a pound higher this time around, and that after winning at Yarmouth last time out; one of the more likely ones. Everyoneknowsadave is genuine and consistent, stays this far and is much more likely to run his race than many; will be hard to kick out the frame. But the vote goes to Amidst The Chaos, as long as it isn’t slow ground (good would be fine); a record at Doncaster of 122 looks good, including a second over C&D two starts back; he ran well in defeat at Newcastle last time out, having to challenge up the middle of the track (winner and second much nearer the often-favoured rail). Still fairly unexposed over this trip and might have a little more to come.
By Dave Massey
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