Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips: All Live ITV Races
Last Saturday started slowly but we finished up with a couple of nice places. Copper Coin jumped poorly and never figured. Niven reportedly lost his action, while Dear Sire didn’t enjoy the ground. I thought Snow Falcon ran a cracker and should have been placed. A slow jump 3 out probably cost him and he was only 2L behind Tous Est Permis who was 3rd. Aye Right ran a massive race in the Charlie Hall, advised e/w at 20/1 and grabbing 3rd. Militarian also ran big to land a place for us at 16/1. There is a mixed day of flat and jumps action on ITV4 tomorrow. Check out Dave Stevos’ Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday tips below…
Doncaster: 1.30pm – Wentworth Stakes (Listed)
The Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster, a Listed 6f heat, kicks off proceedings on ITV4 on Saturday. 15 go to post and with extra places on offer I’ll be chancing one e/w. I put Maygold up for the Rous Stakes at Ascot but the meeting was abandoned. She ran in the rescheduled race at Nottingham (5f sft) and finished 5th, 6.5L behind Dakota Gold. It was only her 4th run of the season and she will be a lot fresher than most of her rivals today.
She steps up to 6f for the first time this term and while she has yet to win at the distance, her effort last time suggested it is well worth giving the trip another go. She ran well over 5.5f in a Listed race at Maison-Lafitte at the back end last term and a repeat of that effort would surely see her in the frame for place money at least in this race. It is hard to see her turning the form with Dakota Gold around but with 5 places on offer from William Hill, Maygold is worth backing e/w for small stakes at 33/1.
Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips: Maygold e/w @ 33/1 (5 Places)
Wincanton: 1.50pm – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
14 mares will battle it out for this class 3 handicap hurdle over 21.5f. It is a quality field that includes former Cheltenham winner Eglantine Du Seuil. She is a fascinating runner who is having her first start for Paul Nicholls. She looks handicapped to the hilt off 147 though and while Bryan Carver’s 5lb claim will help, she is best watched on her first run in a tongue tie after a wind-op. One that looks on the right side of the handicapper is Midnightreflection for Ben Case and Jack Tudor.
By Midnight Legend, this 5yo mare took a while to find her way but she finally clicked at Huntingdon last March. She won easily over 20.5f on nice ground and a decent surface looks to be key for her. Ben Case put her away after that win and she reappeared with a nice run at Warwick (21f gd) a month ago. She runs from 2lb out of the weights here off 121 but Jack Tudor takes off 5lb and she will carry a feather weight. The ground and trip look perfect and at odds of 14/1, Midnightreflection is the e/w selection.
Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips: Midnightreflection e/w @ 14/1 NB (4 Places)
Doncaster Saturday: 2.05pm – EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
Another decent sized field go in search of black type in this 10f heat for fillies and mares. It looks a very open race and you could make a strong case for plenty of them. The one that appeals most to me at odds of 20/1 is Salsada for Jedd O’Keefe and Graham Lee. This daughter of Mukhadram arrives here on the back of three wins in a row. Yes, the last two came in handicap company but the ease of her win off 79 on her last outing suggests she is well worth a try at this level. That win came over 10f at Ayr (gd/sft) and her previous win at Haydock showed she likes soft ground too.
Salsada has compiled a good record during her short career with form figures of 52111. She is bred to be a black type performer, being a half sister to G3 winner Qaraaba, and Listed/G3 placed Kifaah. Her trainer had a welcome winner at Newcastle the other night and Graham Lee has 29 wins and 64 top 4 finishes from 221 rides for the yard. With a rating of 86 she has a bit to find but the 3yo allowance will help and at odds of 16/1 Salsada is worth backing each way.
Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips: Salsada e/w @ 16/1 (4 Places)
Aintree 2.40pm – William Hill Hurdle (Class 2)
With just 3 runners in the 2.25 at Wincanton it is not a race I have any interest in. Only 6 go to post in this race too but it is a really strong looking heat. Plenty of these will have festival ambitions in the Spring and only rank outsider Dinons has had a run. The one I like at the prices is Navajo Pass for McCain and Hughes. This son of Nathaniel was a comfortable Grade 2 winner at Doncaster last season (16f sft). He then outran his 50/1 odds when 4th in the Triumph Hurdle.
He stayed on very nicely late in the day on that occasion, shaping as though further would suit. A former 14f winner on the flat, the 20f trip today could really suit him. With a rating of 145 he has it to do with the likes of Thomas Darby and Call Me Lord in particular, but one thing in his favour is the form of his trainer. He has 7 wins in the past fortnight, including a couple of horses returning from breaks. Navajo Pass will try to make all and if he gets a soft lead he could make a bold bid at 20/1.
Aintree Saturday Tips: Navajo Pass e/w @ 20/1
Wincanton: 3.00pm – Elite Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another small field of 6 for this Grade 2 hurdle over 15.5f. Sceau Royal is a warm order for Alan King and Daryl Jacob. He hosed up in a handicap last time off 150, beating Ballyandy by nearly 3L. He has form figures of 132 at Wincanton, including a win over C&D. Sceau Royal will enjoy the good ground, he is top rated by 4lb and he is the one they have to beat. The two Paul Nicholls’ runners look the most likely challengers but neither are overpriced. This is not a betting race for me and I’ll be sitting it out.
Wincanton Tips: No Bet
Doncaster Saturday: 3.15pm – November Handicap (Class 2)
Usually I relish these big handicaps but this one looks particularly puzzling. Our old friend Glencadam Glory is back in handicap company and Ella McCain’s claim could be a big help. 12f might just be a bit too short for him but if he can dictate he could be dangerous. The one I am going to take a punt on at a big price is Rhythmic Intent for Stuart Williams and William Buick. This 4yo son of Lope De Vega ran a poor race here last time but his previous two efforts would give him a right chance off a mark of 94.
He ran a blinder off 96 behind Euchen Glen in the Old Borough Cup (14f sft), beat 4.5L into 4th. He is now 9lb better off with that rival and that could be enough to help him reverse that form. He won over 10f during the summer so the drop back to 12f shouldn’t inconvenience him and he has a fine record on soft ground. William Buick looks an interesting booking, he has a decent enough draw in stall 10 and at odds of 25/1 Rhythmic Intent is the each way NAP of the day.
Wincanton and Doncaster Saturday Tips: Rhythmic Intent e/w @ 25/1 NAP (6 places)
wincanton: 3.35pm – Silver Trophy Handicap (Listed)
We were on Champagne Court at Cheltenham when it looked like he either didn’t stay or blew up. Connections must think it was the latter because he is stepped up another furlong. However, he is 6lb higher over fences and he would probably prefer a bit more give in the ground. One that will enjoy the conditions at a bigger price is Irish Prophecy. Trained by Emma Lavelle, this horse has failed to fulfil the potential he showed in bumpers. He beat Champ by 2L in that sphere but his form tailed off afterwards.
He finally got back to winning ways in October last year off 127 over hurdles at Wincanton (20f gd/fm). In July earlier this year he made his chase debut at Newton Abbott and scored off the same mark. The run that makes him of interest here is his 1L 2nd to El Presente last time (24f gd/fm). That fine effort proved he has the stamina for today’s trip and the winner franked the from by going in again at Hereford. Irish Prophecy was 1L behind El Presente who was rated 132 and that horse is now rated 142. That suggests that Irish Prophecy could be competitive off 135 and Richard Patrick takes off a further 3lb. Once there is no rain Irish Prophecy could go well for e/w players at odds of 18/1.
