Doncaster Saturday racing Tips by Dave Stevos
Doncaster Saturday Racing Tips For ITV4 Live Races
Kempton proved tough for us again last weekend and our long wait for a winner goes on. Queen’s Magic never landed a blow for us in the opener but she is better than that. Blame It On Sally ran a very nice race, just not nice enough to reward each way support. West Cork at least landed us a place with a fine effort at 13/2. Highway One O One was inexplicably held up by Leighton Aspell. The only explanation is that he has another target in mind (maybe Cheltenham if ground improves). It is going to be attritional at Doncaster and a liking for bottomless ground will be a must. Check out Dave Stevos’ free Doncaster Saturday racing tips for live ITV4 races below…
Doncaster Saturday Racing Tips: 1.50 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The first live race on ITV4 from Doncaster is a 3 mile handicap hurdle and 12 are due to go to post. Given the ground this is going to take some getting. At a huge price off a feather weight, the 2017 winner Bryden Boy could outrun his odds. Now a 10yo, this horse showed some of his old spark when dotting up off 113 at Sedgefield in November (27f sft). He followed that up with a couple of good efforts off his revised mark, placed at both Bangor (hvy) and Newcastle (sft).
Jenny Candlish’s inmate ran a lifeless race in a weaker contest than this when last sighted 10 days ago over this C&D (sft). He has bounced back from a poor run with good performances before though. It would be no surprise to see a better showing in this, especially given the decent prize money on offer. He is 1lb out of the weights but his talented jockey’s 3lb claim negates that. He won this off 131 in 2017 and he is in off 116 here. The ground ought to slow down some of his younger rivals but this lad should relish it (form figures on heavy read 21P12155422). At odds of 33/1 he is the each way selection.
DONCASTER SATURDAY TIPS: BRYDEN BOY E/W @ 33/1 4 PLACES
Doncaster Saturday Racing Tips: 2.25 – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Only 8 horses go to post for this valuable 16f handicap chase. As the betting suggests, it is a tight contest and you could make a case for a few of them. Dolos is the favourite but he carries top weight off 161 and he has yet to win on heavy. Destrier has won on heavy but his best form has come on soft and good to soft. Nuts Well is also best on slightly better ground and the handicapper has not let him off lightly for his last 3 wins.
Dalila Du Seuil is interesting. This mare is 3/3 on heavy ground, winning those 3 races by a combined distance of 28.5L. However, her last two runs leave her with a lot to prove and at 6/1 she is not for me. Jerrysback handles heavy ground but he was 3rd over 3 miles last time and has never won at shorter than 20f. Gino Trail is now 13 and has yet to win on heavy while Katpoli would prefer better ground too. That leaves Joke Dancer and he represents a bit of each way value at 11/1.
Sue Smith’s charge has a nice racing weight of 10st 5lbs and he has winning form over 16f on heavy. He hacked up by 11L at Haydock (16.5f hvy) off 127 and followed that up with an 8L romp at Warwick over the same trip on soft. The 20f trip stretched him next time at Haydock (Grade 2) and things went wrong early for him last time at Sandown (hampered early). With trip and ground to suit he could bounce back to form and at 11/1 Joke Dancer is the e/w pick.
DONCASTER SATURDAY RACING TIPS: JOKE DANCER E/W @ 11/1
Doncaster Saturday Preview: 3.00 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed)
8 mares will go in search of some black type in this Listed 24f novices’ hurdle. Cill Anna is a warm order and on ratings and form should be hard to beat. This is going to be the heaviest ground she has encountered so far though (and her longest trip under rules). Odds of 4/6 do not appeal in the slightest given what she has to prove. It will take a tough, hardy horse that loves bottomless ground to win this. Aurora Thunder matches that description and she could sneak into the money for Lucinda Russell and Tom Scudamore.
This battle hardened mare has had six starts over hurdles and has been in the first 3 on five of them. She has finished runner up on both starts on heavy ground at Ayr, first in a 20f hcap and then when carrying a penalty in a novice last time. She is a half sister to a pair of 3 mile + winners so this step up should suit her. Her rating of 117 leaves her with a lot to find but if the new trip brings out some more improvement she could easuly sneak into the money at 25/1.
DONCASTER SATURDAY TIPS: AURORA THUNDER E/W @ 25/1 NAP
Doncaster Tips: 3.35 – Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (Class 2)
The final live race of the day from Doncaster on ITV4 is the toughest stamina test of all. A marathon trip of 26f awaits the field of 9 (12 if Kelso is off) and it will be a real war of attrition. Plenty of these would prefer a firmer surface but Ascot De Bruyere will be right at home on the heavy ground. This 10yo son of Kapgarde is trained by James Ewart and he has a fine record with his raiders at Doncaster (10 winners 17 top 4s from 62 runners).
This horse is in off 127 here and Danny McMenamin claims a handy 3lb. That means he is effectively off 124, just 2lb higher than his last winning mark. He has yet to win beyond 3 miles but he ran with great credit over 4 miles in the Borders National at Kelso a couple of years ago so stamina should not be an issue. Ewart’s charge has a stellar record when the mud is flying with career form figures of 2411 on heavy ground. He enjoys going left handed (last 3 wins at Newcastle) and at odds of 33/1 a he is the each way selection.
