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Friday 11th Septemeber

As we get closer to the weekend, the racing at Doncaster is heating up and tomorrow's card looks by far the strongest of the week so far in terms of quality. In the Mallard handicap at 1.40, I like the look of Sleeping Lion who is bidding to repeat his win in the race last year off a 3 pound higher mark. His return to action at Newbury this season was adequate but he really improved for it and was unlucky at Newcastle over 2 miles next time. On that occasion he made his run earlier than ideal and being reunited with Spencer for the first time since his win here last year is a major positive. He is probably more suited by this extended 14 furlong trip than 2 miles in any case and he didn't appear to get home last time at Ascot. He isn't extremely well handicapped but this may not take a lot of winning and he is handicapped to go very close with conditions to suit. The obvious danger is Alfaatik who could improve again for the step up in trip and was value for more than his winning margin at York last time. However, I think Sleeping Lion is ahead of the others and at around 5/1 he is good value. 

The Flying Childers at 2.40 looks like it could be run at a frantic pace with plenty of horses that like to force the pace. A strong pace at 5 furlongs could suit Sacred and allow the Queen Mary runner up to recapture winning ways. The effort at Royal Ascot behind Wesley Ward's Campanelle is the best form on offer with a whole host of winners well beaten in behind on that occasion. She again pulled well clear of the field with the exciting Miss Amulet last time at York, having looked like the most likely winner for much of the contest. She actually traded long odds on in running before faltering inside the final furlong. She is by far the likeliest winner here and odds of 7/4 are very fair.


0.5pt win Sleeping Lion (5/1 General) Doncaster 1.40

1pt win Sacred (7/4 General) Doncaster 2.40



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