Bets for a bumper Sunday on Town Moor....

Saturday, 10th September 2022

Bets for a bumper Sunday on Town Moor….

What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts….

And what we get in recompense for the loss of racing on Friday and Saturday is a 9-race card at Doncaster on Sunday….

…. comprising a G1 classic, four G2s, and four handicaps (all of which boast double-figure fields)….

I reckon the card will attract a big attendance and it should be a good watch on the TV….

British racing has its problems right now. And plenty of them. No doubt….

…. but if you were looking for a revised format or formula that might reinvigorate  its vital signs….

…. then tomorrow’s card at Doncaster might just turn out to be the template to go forward with….

We get one day instead of two and nine races instead of 12 or 14. Its less than expected ahead of the meeting – but somehow this Sunday feels like more….

I see it as all the quality cuts of meat and trimmings – without the gristle. I’m looking forward to it….

• In the St Leger @ 3.55….

New London is the ante-post hotpot in the St Leger @ 10/11. Beaten once in a 5-run career he was quoted in single figures for the Derby before defeat in the Chester Vase in May….

The idiosyncratic track took the blame that day. Fair enough. And the decision not to attend tricky Epsom appears sensible. Doncaster looks much more like a potential spiritual home….

Next time at Newmarket New London was strong in the finish over 10f at handicap level. Last time – winning the G3 Gordon Stakes over 12f – he looked every inch the strong galloper certain to prosper for tomorrow’s extra furlongs….

He’s the one to beat. But Ryan Moore was adamant that – had he not lost his whip a quarter mile from home on HOO YA MAL – he’d have finished closer that day….

The pair finished 3rd and 2l adrift. I can’t say for sure that the lost whip was the defining factor – or that David Probert’s tighter grip tomorrow will be sufficient to bridge that gap and extra gulf New London can muster…. 

But I’ve no reason to doubt Moore’s sincerity and @ 7s I’m rolling the dice on the contest being closer than the prices predict….

• In the Portland @ 2.10….

Evergreen DAKOTA GOLD 8y now and not the force he once was. But he’s still handy on his day – as he showed at when winning at York (for the 6th time) in May off 99….

He’s run other good races this term at Newcastle and at Ripon the time before last on good to soft. Last time at York he had excuses. Drawn high he ran down the nearside – where nothing really got into it – on ground too quick….

But I reckon Dakota Gold remains competitively handicapped on 102 – and he’s produced multiple good performances at Doncaster in the later stages of previous seasons….

He was 4th in the Portland way back in 2018. He hasn’t showed up in the race since – too high on the rating scale in 2019 and 2020 and out-of-form last season – but he isn’t out of it on 102 and with cut in the ground Dakota Gold he could run a mighty race….

In all honesty, I’d like more rain and outright soft going before the off. But – right now – I’m happy enough at the 12s with Sky Bet paying out on 7 places and multiple bookies on 6….

• In the other handicaps….

I’m sticking with MUMS TIPPLE in the Cazoo Handicap at 1.30. I put him up on Thursday at 7s. He’s 6s now – but I see no big reason to switch horses….

But I have deserted Songo in the Mallard at 5.05. He’s unproven on softer ground. The market isn’t dumb and has likely lit on the one to beat – Inchicore – but there’s no fun in backing favourites and the pick of the prices for me is old friend DARK JEDI at the 11s….

He’s been in decent enough nick of late and – whilst he might have hit a rating plateau – softer conditions will suit him better than most and bits of form in the book suggest he goes close to landing money if he runs his race. Sky Bet pay out on 5 places & the rest 4….

Finally, in the P J Towey Construction Handicap at 4.30 I’m two-against-the-field. The nap of the two (for punters who prefer to bet one horse per race) is EMPIRESTATEOFMIND – and the second pick is ARTHUR’S REALM….

Both are unexposed to some degree and both can be backed at the general 14s. Both horses should handle conditions underfoot better than a fair percentage of the opposition and both act on the track. In short, they tick boxes at nice prices. Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally….

• The final word….

That’s all for today. Back next time. Stay tuned….

Meantime – put the kettle on and enjoy the racing….

Against the Crowd