Post by Old Timer on Mar 27, 2021 11:08:57 GMT
A very cautious approach the start of the Flat, just having a look at the Lincoln and leaving the Spring Mile to you more intrepid types. And sadly, the Rosebery at Kempton is only a mere shadow of the handicap that used to be run in the days of my youth, so nothing to explore there!
Doncaster 15.10 Cl 2 Handicap 515 (91.1) 8f gd – 22 Run
Danyah 4-9-3 (98) Dr 9 (9.4)
’20 record: 2/2/4 Best: 187.7 off 93 carrying 8-9 (Cl 2 Hcap 6f gd Hayd)
26/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (156/94.7) 8f gd Hayd 8-9 5/2 F 1/9 1.5 l off 93
raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, challenged from 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); form run lto;
Minus: break 182 days; up 8lbs (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: just the 4 starts last year, winning his hcap debut here over 7f and then after 3rd to River Nymph (-3) over 7f and Hortzadar (-1) over 8f, was impressive when winning over 8f on gd at Haydock; raised 5lbs for that but definitely an improving sort who goes well fresh.
Brunch 4-9-5 (100) Dr 15 (10.4)
‘20 record: 3/1/7 Best: 188.7 off 97 carrying 8-0 (Cl 2 Hcap 8f gd/sf Ayr)
31/10/20 List Stks (159/) 8f hv Nwmk 8-13 6/1 6/8 12.05 l off 100
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along halfway, never on terms
19/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (118/92.0) 8f gd/sf Ayr 9-7 100/30 F 2/8 0.05l off 97
held up, pushed along and effort 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, just missed out final strides
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); down in class;
Minus: course; break 147 days; up 6lbs;
Verdict: good summer last year and won a Cl 2 over 8f at York before just bested by Johan (-2) at Ayr; unplaced on softer ground at both Redcar and Newmarket in October; meets Johan on 7lbs better terms and was successful fto last year, but suspect coming from a listed stks.
Eastern World 4-9-3 (98) Dr 19 (11.3)
’20 record: 1/2/5
’21 record: 1/0/1 Best: 185.8 off 93 carrying 9-0 (Hcap 9f gd Meyd)
13/02/21 Hcap (121/92.8) 9f gd Meyd 9-0 20/1 1/17 3.5 l off 93
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ran on well, comfortably
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (42 days);
Minus: course; up 3lbs (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: somewhat disappointing towards the end of last year being 3.5l behind Brunch (-3) at York and cheekpieces obviously didn’t help when well beaten by Haqeeqy (-2) over 7f here; has won over 9f at Maydann in February however, although I’m a little wary of Meydan winners on their return to UK.
Ouzo 5-9-2 (97) Dr 16 (14.3)
‘20 record: 1/1/5 Best: 181.8 off 92 carrying 9-1 (Cl 2 Hcap 8f sf York)
09/10/20 Cl 2 Hcap (187/89.8) 8f sf York 9-1 11/1 1/20 0.25 l off 92
prominent, led over 2f out, edged left from over 1f out, bumped rival inside final furlong, held on
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto;
Minus: course; break 169 days; up 1lb (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: hit a hattrick in wins in 2019 but then didn‘t score again till recording a career best at York in October; raised 7lbs for that to career high; asking a bit much on return perhaps.
You might find my shortlist missing many of the favourites, but I can’t have Haqeeqy who has been very productive over 7f, but finished L/10 beaten 11.25l at Newmarket on his only attempt at 8f. It’s the same with the 7lbs claiming apprentice who’s 7/21 on the AW, but has yet to ride on turf. He may win, and good look to him, but he looks an over-bet favourite to me.
It’s a similar story with River Nymph, and he’s not exactly drawn ideally in stall 2 and has 9-6 to tote. They’ve eventually got the distance right for Brentford Hope, but he’s another low-drawn horse that haven’t fared that well of late, save a pair of winners on sf ground.
If it weren’t for the draw I could give King Ottokar a chance. However, stuck to my guns and from my shortlist I think that Ouzo has a bit to do with a career high weight as a 5yo, so I’ll reluctantly draw a line through his chances. Eastern World bounced back to form in Meydan, but he was beaten by fellow contenders last year, plus I always worry about his return to the UK – too many of them take a while to regain their form. My only worry about Brunch is that he’s coming from a listed race, which is not exactly a plus, so I’m going for Danyah, who has the least of negatives, So it’s Danyah from Brunch and Eastern World, which relegates poor old Ouzo to fourth – if I get one in the frame I’ll be happy!
Doncaster 15.10 Cl 2 Handicap 515 (91.1) 8f gd – 22 Run
Danyah 4-9-3 (98) Dr 9 (9.4)
’20 record: 2/2/4 Best: 187.7 off 93 carrying 8-9 (Cl 2 Hcap 6f gd Hayd)
26/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (156/94.7) 8f gd Hayd 8-9 5/2 F 1/9 1.5 l off 93
raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, challenged from 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); form run lto;
Minus: break 182 days; up 8lbs (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: just the 4 starts last year, winning his hcap debut here over 7f and then after 3rd to River Nymph (-3) over 7f and Hortzadar (-1) over 8f, was impressive when winning over 8f on gd at Haydock; raised 5lbs for that but definitely an improving sort who goes well fresh.
Brunch 4-9-5 (100) Dr 15 (10.4)
‘20 record: 3/1/7 Best: 188.7 off 97 carrying 8-0 (Cl 2 Hcap 8f gd/sf Ayr)
31/10/20 List Stks (159/) 8f hv Nwmk 8-13 6/1 6/8 12.05 l off 100
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along halfway, never on terms
19/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (118/92.0) 8f gd/sf Ayr 9-7 100/30 F 2/8 0.05l off 97
held up, pushed along and effort 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, just missed out final strides
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); down in class;
Minus: course; break 147 days; up 6lbs;
Verdict: good summer last year and won a Cl 2 over 8f at York before just bested by Johan (-2) at Ayr; unplaced on softer ground at both Redcar and Newmarket in October; meets Johan on 7lbs better terms and was successful fto last year, but suspect coming from a listed stks.
Eastern World 4-9-3 (98) Dr 19 (11.3)
’20 record: 1/2/5
’21 record: 1/0/1 Best: 185.8 off 93 carrying 9-0 (Hcap 9f gd Meyd)
13/02/21 Hcap (121/92.8) 9f gd Meyd 9-0 20/1 1/17 3.5 l off 93
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ran on well, comfortably
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (42 days);
Minus: course; up 3lbs (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: somewhat disappointing towards the end of last year being 3.5l behind Brunch (-3) at York and cheekpieces obviously didn’t help when well beaten by Haqeeqy (-2) over 7f here; has won over 9f at Maydann in February however, although I’m a little wary of Meydan winners on their return to UK.
Ouzo 5-9-2 (97) Dr 16 (14.3)
‘20 record: 1/1/5 Best: 181.8 off 92 carrying 9-1 (Cl 2 Hcap 8f sf York)
09/10/20 Cl 2 Hcap (187/89.8) 8f sf York 9-1 11/1 1/20 0.25 l off 92
prominent, led over 2f out, edged left from over 1f out, bumped rival inside final furlong, held on
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); form run lto;
Minus: course; break 169 days; up 1lb (wt); up 5lbs (OR);
Verdict: hit a hattrick in wins in 2019 but then didn‘t score again till recording a career best at York in October; raised 7lbs for that to career high; asking a bit much on return perhaps.
You might find my shortlist missing many of the favourites, but I can’t have Haqeeqy who has been very productive over 7f, but finished L/10 beaten 11.25l at Newmarket on his only attempt at 8f. It’s the same with the 7lbs claiming apprentice who’s 7/21 on the AW, but has yet to ride on turf. He may win, and good look to him, but he looks an over-bet favourite to me.
It’s a similar story with River Nymph, and he’s not exactly drawn ideally in stall 2 and has 9-6 to tote. They’ve eventually got the distance right for Brentford Hope, but he’s another low-drawn horse that haven’t fared that well of late, save a pair of winners on sf ground.
If it weren’t for the draw I could give King Ottokar a chance. However, stuck to my guns and from my shortlist I think that Ouzo has a bit to do with a career high weight as a 5yo, so I’ll reluctantly draw a line through his chances. Eastern World bounced back to form in Meydan, but he was beaten by fellow contenders last year, plus I always worry about his return to the UK – too many of them take a while to regain their form. My only worry about Brunch is that he’s coming from a listed race, which is not exactly a plus, so I’m going for Danyah, who has the least of negatives, So it’s Danyah from Brunch and Eastern World, which relegates poor old Ouzo to fourth – if I get one in the frame I’ll be happy!