Doncaster selections Sunday 17th September
The final day at Doncaster and it is a slightly low key one, this meeting having been transferred from its usual Wednesday slot. There is the interest of the Leger Legends race, however it is not much of a betting medium, so it is two of the higher class races that have attracted my attention. We had a decent Saturday on Town Moor with La Yakel winning (advised 9/4) and each-way places for Happy Romance (SP 12/1) and Desert Hero (advised 7/1).
Doncaster 2.25: Poet Master
Although he is yet to encounter soft ground, there are reasons to think why Karl Burke’s gelding will handle today’s conditions and this thoroughly unexposed 3yo can resume winning ways today.
He was made favourite for a good handicap at Haydock last month off the back of two novice wins this season. On both occasions he won with plenty to spare, though on the latter occasion, also at Haydock, his galloping style suggested the ground was plenty quick enough for him that day and he might be more comfortable with some cut.
He raced a bit too freely for his own good in that handicap last month, not appearing to stay the mile, but back at 7f, the distance for his two wins, he will back more in his comfort zone. His dam Madeline showed good form with some give in the ground and I strongly suspect this horse will turn out to be better than a 92 rated animal.
Doncaster 3.35: Queen Aminatu
She is yet to win in seven tries on turf, but QUEEN AMINATU is given another chance by William Haggas to show what she can do on grass here. She does have enough form, especially with some cut in the ground, to think she is capable of winning at this level.
There is no doubt she is one of the best fillies around on the All Weather having won back-to-back listed races on an artificial surface in the autumn, and then winning the AW Championship for Mares at Newcastle over Easter. So the class is definitely there. However she was also second in a listed race on similar going to today at Ascot last season.
Whilst she did disappoint on soft going at the Curragh in the spring, the stable was going through a bit of a lean patch at the time. She did run well last time at Chelmsford over 7f, probably finding that track too sharp. However a straight 7f in a truly run contest with some cut are all positives and I think she is well overpriced, especially if Cachet is not quite up to her best after a long absence.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Poet Master – 2.25 Doncaster – 8/1 William Hill
0.5pts each-way – Queen Aminatu – 3.35 Doncaster – 20/1 general