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Thursday 10th September

2.00 Doncaster – Crownhotel-Bawtry.com EBF Maiden Stakes

Kandahar Run, Kite Wood and The Miniver Rose have won the last three renewals of this opening contest suggesting that trainers are not afraid to aim their better horses at this race. ALFONSO THE WISE is yet to see the racecourse but has a very interesting pedigree. A half-brother to the listed class Heron Island, he is also closely related to the top-class Darshaan, so any strength in the betting suit be duly noted. I wouldn’t give much of a chance to ARLEQUIN after he was beaten a very long way at Thirsk on his debut and would need to improve significantly. Richard Hannon won this race last year, so his two runners shouldn’t be dismissed lightly but I can’t see the form shown so far by BEYOND THE CITY being good enough. I wouldn’t be quite as harsh on QUICK REACTION as I thought he made a decent enough debut and should improve on that for the step up in trip. CHAIN OF EVENTS made his debut in a hot looking Newbury maiden so the fact that he stuck on well to finish 3rd suggests he is a decent animal. He probably wasn’t ideally suited to the softish conditions that day and should also appreciate this step up in trip so of those to have run, I have him down as the most likely winner. COORDINATED CUT cost connections 325,000 guineas and is entered in most of the top juvenile races later in the season, so has lots of pressure resting on his shoulders. His pedigree suggests that he won’t have a problem with the trip at this early stage of his career and again the best advise is to watch the betting. KARAMOJO BELL did himself justice when 5th on his debut at Newmarket. He was rather coltish in the preliminaries and paid the price in the final furlong but he can not be ruled out if he can build on that. My only concern is that the paddock at Doncaster is right in front of the stands and he may boil over again. Although MUNSARIM finished 3rd on his debut he didn’t really pose any threats although he did race wide for much of it before hanging in the closing stages. It was one of those performances that is easily forgotten and with that in mind I think he could be vulnerable tomorrow. MUWALLA is an interesting runner as he wasn’t beaten far in a tough looking contest at Warwick last time. Whether he is up for this is another question and personally I think his future may lie in nurseries for he rest of the season. TACTICIAN has a stamina laden pedigree being by Motivator out of a Shirley Heights mare and that may just prove his downfall as horses of this ilk are usually late maturers.

SHORTLIST

CHAIN OF EVENTS

(COORDINATED CUT)

2.35 Doncaster – Robinsons Designer Fashion At Bawtry Handicap

Three-year-olds don’t have a bad record in this contest, winning five of the last ten renewals, so EASTERN ARIA has to be taken seriously. After her impressive win at Glorious Goodwood, she ran well off an 8lbs higher mark to finish 4th at Sandown before proving that the handicapper didn’t quite have her measure by scoring at Beverley at the end of last month. However, she is up another 6lbs tomorrow and will need to go on improving. DREAM LODGE has been mostly consistent this season but as a result the handicapper hasn’t abated and he sees himself racing off a lifetime high mark of 109 tomorrow. I am not convinced by his run in the Strensall as I believe he was flattered by the way the race run. Off such a big weight I believe he is vulnerable, so I will be looking elsewhere. MOONQUAKE went into the John Smith’s Cup on the back of two decent efforts, so the fact that he was so disappointing was something of a mystery. After holding a handy position, albeit from the widest draw, he went out like a light and that would be a major concern for me tomorrow. FANJURA is certainly on an upwards curve winning his last three starts over 10f. That has seen his handicap mark rise from a respectable 90 to a lofty 107 but I am not sure he has stopped improving yet. In all three of his victories, he only seems to do enough to win the race so there is every chance that he still has plenty of petrol left in the tank. At Sandown last time, he had the comfort of being eased in the closing stages with EASTERN ARIA well held in 4th. If my assumptions are right, he looks the one to beat. Marcus Tregoning’s horses weren’t right when MAWATHEEQ struggled on his reappearance at Newbury in April. However, the yard is bad to form now and I wouldn’t completely rule him out, although he may just need the run. I think the handicapper probably has ALFATHAA where he wants him at the moment although Fallon looks an interesting booking and if anyone can encourage some improvement out of a horse, he can. AUSTRALIA DAY received a confidence boost when winning a maiden hurdle at Worcester on Sunday but on the level I think he is probably a shade high in the weights. LATERLY looks to be on a favourable mar but I can’t help but feel that he is better over further than tomorrow’s trip. BAZERGAN was only 6th in FANJURA’s race at Sandown and what have to improve on what he has shown so far to cause an upset.

SHORTLIST

FANJURA

(EASTERN ARIA)

3.10 Doncaster – Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes

Mark Johnston seems intent on scooping this prize judged on his number of runners. TAKE TEN looks to be his number one hope after winning his last two starts, the last one at Warwick by an impressive 5L beating an odds-on Godolphin runner in the process. LOWDOWN looks next best after winning over 6f at Goodwood in July. I wouldn’t discount the other three as the lesser fancied Johnston runners have a history of causing an upset. But this race isn’t all about my old boss as there are some very nice horses in the line up. The top-rated TAAJUB is an obvious candidate after his 2nd placed effort in the Gimcrack. However, there were only six runners in that contest and I felt that most ran below par, so I am not totally convinced by the form although since that run this race has always been his target. I was impressed with LAMH ALBASSER when he won at the July Meeting but he hasn’t really progressed since then. I am not sure the drop down in trip is the way to go but Dettori has won this race 3 times in the last 10 years so clearly knows what is required. I have backed DI STEFANO a few times this season and though he posted another encouraging effort in the Ripon 2YO Trophy. Whether he is good enough to win this I am not so sure but I might be tempted to small stakes each-way if the price is right. RAKAAN arguably has the best form on offer as he ran a cracker behind Canford Cliffs and Xtension in the Coventry. However, he has gone backwards since then and after disappointing in the Richmond he has been beaten in two maidens. SUNRAIDER hadn’t even seen a racecourse until a month ago and after a solid effort on his debut he caught my eye when winning at Windsor next time. Even though he won in straight forward fashion, he still looked inexperienced and a bit green so he should improve on that performance. I am not too sure what to make of Richard Hannon’s three runners. FREMONT hasn’t been seen since finishing 8th in the Coventry and could well have improved with a summer on his back. CARNABY STREET is still a maiden but has experience of a race such as this as he was runner-up in the DBS race at York last month. That will hold him in good stead here and he could be worth a tickle each-way but I am not convinced by the form of LUCKY GENERAL whose nest effort came when 4th in the Superlative Stakes. Finally, don’t write off SPYING who holds a 100% success rate. It’s true that they probably weren’t the strongest of races but this son of Observatory has shown a very game attitude and I can see him turning a few heads as long as he handles the drop down in trip.

SHORTLIST

TAKE TEN

SUNRAIDER

SPYING

(CARNABY STREET)

3.45 Doncaster – DFS Park Hill Stakes (Group 2)

SHEMIMA makes the trip across the channel for this staying fillies’ race and she looks to have every chance based on what she has done at home. She hasn’t finished outside the first four on her last 7 starts at Group 2/3 level so it is hard not seeing her being involved tomorrow. She is the top rated horse in the race and will probably start favourite, so may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I see John Oxx’s TANOURA as one of her main dangers as she doesn’t have many miles on the clock and could well be open to further improvement. She really impressed me when winning the Galtres Stakes at York over 1m4f as I thought the further she went the better she looked, so the extra 2 ½ furlongs here should play to her strengths. The Ebor winner SESENTA won’t be lacking for stamina so isn’t easily discounted although this looks a tougher ask. Another Irish raider PERFECT TRUTH also comes into the race with a decent chance. After narrowly winning the Cheshire Oaks she was quietly fancied in the Oaks but ran no sort of race and was beaten a distance. She was given a break after that and comeback with a much better performance when runner-up in a Cork Group 3 last month. The trip however, is something of an unknown but I am sure Aidan O’Brien knows what he is doing. CLOWANCE looked a filly with a bright future in when finishing 4th in the 2008 Oaks but she hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since after suffering a setback. She is certainly bred for this sort of trip and could spring a surprise although surely she will improve on whatever she does here. SEVENNA will certainly get the trip after winning at Goodwood in July. She was something of a shock winner that day and may just be flattered by the form on ground that turned in her favour but she does look to hold CASSIQUE LADY, VICTORIA MONTOYA, PRINCESS TAYLOR and STARFALA on that form.

SHORTLIST

TANOURA

(CLOWANCE)

4.20 Doncaster – European Breeders’ Fund Carrie Red Fillies’ Nursery Stakes

I don’t know too much about AVONROSE other than she is a half-sister to the classy Lovelace. Form wise, she certainly shouldn’t be ruled out in this contest after an encouraging effort at Warwick last time. She just got outstayed over the 7f and I feel that the 6 1/2f tomorrow will prove ideal. HASTY has been improving with every run and should go close if building on her Folkestone success last time. However, there are three fillies that particularly earn my respect. The first of those is BAHATI who won on her debut at Newbury in May before flopping in a listed contest at Sandown. She proved that running to be all wrong at Newmarket last time when despite being a bit mulish in the preliminaries she stuck on gamely during the race to finish 4th. SILVER SYMPHONY was runner up in that Newbury maiden and is another filly with lots to like about her. She too should be well suited to this 6 1/2F trip after just failing to last out of 7f last time. Regulars will know that I have put WATER BISCUIT up a few times this year and she looks to hold decent claims back in Nursery company after struggling in a Group 3 last time. YURITUNI took a while to get going but impressed me at York last time beating what looks to be a very reliable line up. She does have a 5lbs rise up the weights to contend with but now that she has finally got that winning habit, there could well be further improvement to come.

SHORTLST

BAHATI

WATER BISCUIT

YURITUNI

4.50 Doncaster – Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes (Listed)

We saw Rainbow View finally get off the mark at the weekend and this could prove the perfect opportunity for FANTASIA to follow suit. All I can say is that everything looks ideal, trip, ground, jockey so if she cannot win this when she is so clear at the weights, Cumani will have a major headache on his hands. Barry Hills has won this race 3 times in the last decade. In fact ROYAL CONFIDENCE was one of those three last year so I wouldn’t be too quick to rite her off especially as she looked to be coming back to her best at York last time. SHAMWARI LODGE has proved a thorn in my side this season but I was glad to see her get her head in front at York last time. That may have provided the confidence boost needed but I still can’t see her troubling Cumani’s filly if she runs up to her best. SELECT impressed in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood in July and is starting to look a real 7f specialist. If she is able to build on what she has done so far this season, I would give her a squeak so she may prove decent each-way value if the Cumani filly is too short in the betting.

SHORTLIST

FANTASIA

(SELECT)

5.25 Doncaster – Meadowhall Fabulous Fashionista Handicap

I have a personal interest in the closing contest as a friend of mine is a part owner of the hat-trick seeking TAGULA NIGHT. The inside line is that they are hopeful of a big run rather than confident but there is no doubt that he has the stamp of a progressive horse. Because of my connection I won’t include him in the final shortlist but I certainly wouldn’t put anyone off backing him. Elsewhere, the consistent RED CAPE will surely be there or thereabouts at the finish over what is his ideal trip. Ruth Carr has really made a good start to her training career and it would be nice to see her have a winner at a big festival. FISHFORCOMPLIMENTS has been a bit out of sorts recently but he is back to a winning mark now although I accept that he isn’t the easiest horse to win with. Henry Candy is one of my favourite trainers and SEAMUS SHINDIG has to be given a chance after winning at Newmarket last time. A further 3lbs won’t make like any easier but he gets on very well with Amy Scott. HAMOODY was no match for the winner at Goodwood last time but ran a very respectable race in defeat, suggesting that he is capable of winning off his current mark. 6f on good ground look ideal for him. If ATLANTIC STORY were able to replicate his all weather form on turf he would win this hands down but even though he has been going close in recent starts, it would take a leap of faith to bet that he records his first turf success since 2004. INGLEBY LADY doesn’t have many miles on the clock but has won 3 of her 6 starts this season and may well have more to offer despite an 8lbs hike up the weights since her win at Redcar last month. SUMMER DANCER still looks to be on a winning mark but 7f looks to be more his trip but I wouldn’t be surprised to see BAJAN TRYST run a big race after a much better effort at Ripon last time. Clearly, he is far from straight forward but he clearly has ability and supporters will just have to hope that it is a going day. HOTHAM recorded his first success over 6f at Redcar last time so can’t be completely discounted even under a 6lbs penalty.

SHORTLIST

RED CAPE

FISHFORCOMPLIMENTS

HAMOODY

INGLEBY LADY