Officials at Doncaster remain optimistic that Saturday’s card, including the Group One Kameko Futurity Trophy, will beat the weather despite the loss of their card on Friday and will hold a precautionary inspection of the track at 7.30am ahead of the final Group One contest of the British Flat season.
The return of racing at Cheltenham, though, may prove more appealing to punters given the likely ground conditions at Town Moor, and Nicky Henderson’s Quick Draw (2.25) could be the one to beat in the most valuable event, a £60,000 handicap chase.
The seven-year-old has been consistent and gradually progressive since joining Henderson’s yard early in 2022 and posted a useful time in the circumstances to win a five-runner race at Ludlow on his return to action earlier this month.
Cheltenham 1.15 Haddex Des Obeaux made rapid strides in quite a brief campaign last season and can continue his improvement after a 10lb rise for his 19-length success at Warwick in January.
Cheltenham 1.50 Blueking D’Oroux was transformed by a wind operation last term and can pick up where he left off.
Doncaster 2.10 The powerhouse yards of Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby field the top two in the betting, Ancient Wisdom and Diego Velazquez, but Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini showed a similar level of form to win over seven furlongs here in September and may have been missed in the market at around 9-2.
Huntingdon
12.40 Foxey
1.15 Big Changes
1.50 Doc McCoy
2.25 Storminhome (nap)
3.00 Iolaos Du Mou
3.35 General Medrano
4.10 Chase Park
Newcastle
4.15 Valley Of Flowers
4.50 Completed
5.25 Rich Harry
6.00 Amayretto
6.30 Havana Rose
7.00 Pop Favorite
7.30 Basholo (nb)
8.00 Lady Celia
Doncaster 2.45 A return to a softer surface could do the trick for Ballymount Boy after he pulled away his chance in a Group One at Longchamp on Arc day.
Doncaster 3.20 Glorious Angel acts well on testing ground and Conor Planas’s 3lb claim could tip the balance in a highly competitive sprint handicap.
Cheltenham 3.00 The first of the qualifiers for the Pertemps Final at the Festival in March, and Noel Meade’s Bugs Moran catches the eye at around 13-2. He has had just three starts since the end of the 2021-22 season, finishing a close second every time, and may have more scope for improvement than many of his rivals on just his ninth start over timber.
