The flat returns at Doncaster on Saturday, with the ever competitive Lincoln the feature race at 3.35pm. Across the first six races, we are going to try and land the first flat Placepot of the year, with Joe Napier picking out his selections.
Leg 1: 1.20pm
Leg 1 Selections: (7) Astral Beau
Last year’s Classic generation rarely stood up to scrutiny over 1m last season, so both Knight and Charyn will have to step up from their 2023 form, despite generally being consistent. They have no weight allowances to benefit them this term either and so last year’s winner ASTRAL BEAU looks a good pick for Placepot purposes. Pam Sly’s five-year-old bolted up in this a year ago before finishing a very creditable third in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes behind two mares who won Group 1s before the season was out. Both those runs were on soft or heavy, so she will appreciate conditions and is better than Listed level when fully firing.
Leg 2: 1.50 Doncaster
Leg 2 Selections: (13) Mystical Elegance, (14) Paddy’s Courage
This is an unusual running of the Brockelsby in some respects, primarily because none of the last six winning trainers are represented in a division which is usually seen as a speciality, particularly this early in the season. However, from an ownership perspective, Amo Racing regularly have forward juveniles, winning this with Persian Force two years ago and having the runner-up last season, while their Arizona Blaze won the first two-year-old maiden of the season in Ireland on Monday.
As such, it would be a surprise if MYSTICAL ELEGANCE were not right there and she is the correct favourite. That said in a race with so many unknowns, it is worth adding one at a bigger price too, and PADDY’S COURAGE fits that bill. Her dam won as a two-year-old and she boasts a speedy pedigree overall that suggests she could be competitive first time out.
Leg 3: 2.25 Doncaster
Leg 3 Selections: (2) Look Back Smiling, (8) Magic Memories
The value to be had here is with two horses who have occasionally shown some attitude at the start. LOOK BACK SMILING ran a remarkable race behind Lincoln favourite Liberty Lane in September when incredibly slow to start, ultimately finishing only 3½ lengths behind in sixth when 7lb out of the handicap. He has since come back to Doncaster to win on heavy ground over 7f and is only 3lb higher in the weights here.
MAGIC MEMORIES pulled the same trick at Newmarket, dragging himself into the places having given the field a significant start last November. That form looks pretty solid anyway and he runs off the same mark, so even a half-decent start should see him challenge for the first four.
Leg 4: 3.00pm
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Montassib
For ages MONTASSIB was among the favourites for every big handicap over 7f or 1m, but William Haggas’ decision to step the son of Exceed And Excel back to 6f has worked wonders. He was an unlucky fifth of 24 in the Ayr Gold Cup in September, before winning a heritage handicap at York the following month, defeating the Ayr winner Significantly by a comfortable 1¾ lengths.
On Racing Post Ratings (RPRs), it was his best run by 6lb and enough to see him come into this race with the joint highest official rating too. He has won off a 598-day break, so his disappointing effort in the Lincoln last season when running fresh can be easily excused and he may easily break into a regular Pattern performer now he has found his optimum distance.
Leg 5: 3.35pm
Leg 5 Selections: (4) Liberty Lane, (5) Thunder Ball, (15) Mr Professor
I previewed this race for GG on Thursday, with THUNDER BALL, LIBERTY LANE and MR PROFESSOR all making appeal in different positions through the market.
Leg 6: 4.10pm
Leg 6 Selections: (3) Harper’s Ferry
A lot will depend on how much the 1,500,000gns purchase King’s Reign improves for a low-key debut over 1m4f at Wolverhampton last month. He is regally bred and in fantastic hands with Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby, but on RPRs, his effort was 19lb worse than that of HARPER’S FERRY when Ed Walker’s charge was so narrowly beaten at Newmarket at the end of last season.
A son of Oaks winner Talent, he was sent off 50/1 on that first start over 1m, but very nearly caused a big upset, only being run down on the line. That effort came on soft ground too, so we know he will have few issues with this surface and his pedigree suggests he will stay at least this 1m2f distance. Any improvement on his debut would make him difficult to beat.
Suggested Placepot Selections For Doncaster On Saturday 23rd March
Leg 1 Selections: (7) Astral Beau
Leg 2 Selections: (13) Mystical Elegance, (14) Paddy’s Courage
Leg 3 Selections: (2) Look Back Smiling, (8) Magic Memories
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Montassib
Leg 5 Selections: (4) Liberty Lane, (5) Thunder Ball, (15) Mr Professor
Leg 6 Selections: (3) Harper’s Ferry
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