Sunday 14th June

[Devasteve]

So addled yesterday that I even got the day wrong; old age catching up! However, it was a good day all in all, although teh change of going at York did me, as did there being no confirmed front-runner in the field. See how we go today.

Doncaster 16.15 Cl 3 Hcap 74 (95) 6f gd/sf – 12 Run (11 at best)
3yo = 8lbs wfa allowance

Last year – 84 (95) gd 13 ran
Golden Steps (91.6) 4/1 F 3-8-10 (85) Dr 6 by 0.5l from Out Do 11/2 5-9-7 (88) Dr 1
Mississippi (84.1) 11/1 5-9-6 (87) Dr 3 was 3l 5th
Picture Dealer 12/1 5-9-6 (90) Dr 9 was 4.1l 8th

Ecclestone 4-9-12 (93) Dr 6
23 May Cl 3 Hc 6f gd Hayd 10/1 0.5l 1/15 off 90 SF 79 Rat 85.1
mid-division centre, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on to lead narrowly final 50 yards, held on
15 Apr Cl 3 Hc 5f gd Bev 10/1 4.75l 8/17 off 93 SF 48
behind, effort over 1f out, one pace and no impression
Won 5f mdn here on 2yo debut, on only other success had been over 5f, but appreciated the step up to 6f at Haydock lto running on to lead over a furlong out and keeping on; dlr 22d; suspect he wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much, but everything fine as reported; only raised 3lbs, though is 6lbs worse off with Canyari who finished 4th due to the latter rider’s claim; nevertheless, has to be a contender.
Mississippi 6-9-6 (87) Dr 3
03 Jun Cl 3 Hc 6f gd/sf Rip 15/2 0.25 1/10 off 84 SF 76 Rat 83.7
held up towards rear, headway approaching final furlong, effort when short of room inside final furlong, quickened to lead towards finish
22 May Cl 4 Hc 6f gd/fm Pont 5/1 3.5l 6/9 off 85 SF 70
towards rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor
08 May Cl 4 Hc 6f sf Rip 5/2 F 0.5l 2/8 off 82 SF 77
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, carried right inside final furlong, held towards finish
16 Apr Cl 4 Hc 6f gd/sf Rip 7/1 0.5l 3/11 off 81 SF 70
held up mid-division, pushed along and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
Joined current yard from Barron at the start of the season and has looked a difficult animal, recording his first win since a mdn at Kempton in 2012 when responding to the fitting of cheek-pieces at Ripon lto; dlr 11d; interesting that 3 best runs this season have all been over 6f at Ripon on gd/sf or sf; raised 3lb for the win and is 4lbs worse off with Adam’s Ale who finished back in 4th; conditions should suit, but question as to whether the cheek-pieces will work again; nevertheless, a contender.
Exchequer 4-9-5 (86) Dr 10
27 May Cl 4 Hc 7f std Kemp 11/4 F 1.25l 1/14 off 80 SF 68 Rat 73.3
tracked leading pair, 2nd over 3f out, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong
29 Apr Cl 4 Hc 8f gd/fm Asc 9/2 12l 6/12 off 82 SF 52
tracked leaders, led over 5f out, headed over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Less exposed than most, but while is 2/3 on the AW is 0/3/7 on turf; won over 7f at Kempton lto, but only attempt at this trip was when runner-up in a mdn at Windsor back in October 2013; dlr 18d; has been raised 6lbs for Kempton win, but is up in class today and down in trip and has something to prove despite Moore riding for Hannon; as such perhaps not the strongest contender over today’s trip.
Snap Shots 3-9-4 (93) Dr 5
22 May Cl 3 3yo Hc 5f gd/sf Hayd 9/2 1.25l 2/7 off 93 SF 58 Rat 89.7
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, unable to challenge winner after, stayed on
08 May Cl 2 3yo Hc 5f sf Chest 11/4 F 7.75l 4/5 off 93 SF 50
pressed leader, ridden and lost place over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
18 Apr Cl 3 3yo Hc 5f gd Thir 11/1 1.75l 4/12 off 93 SF61
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on one pace
Two wins came on sf and fm as a 2yo, so seems to handle diverse going; however, both over 5f, as was recent runner-up spot at Haydock; dlr 23d; runs off the same mark today and was staying on at Haydock, but only attempt over 6f was when midfield in the Listed 2yo Trophy at Redcar last October; while a 3yo won last year, not sure this one’s of the same class, although the stable has come to form of late; not a strong contender.
Canyari 4-9-4 (85) Dr 8
23 May Cl 3 Hc 6f gd Hayd 6/1 1l 4/15 off 85 SF 78 Rat 85.6
tracked leaders centre, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on and every chance final furlong, held towards finish
25 Apr Cl 4 Hc 6f gd/fm Leic 7/4 F 5l 1/9 off 75 SF 68
close up, led over 1f out, ran on strongly
16 Apr Cl 4 Hc 6f gd/sf Rip 7/1 1.75l 4/11 off 76 SF 69
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish
Hadn’t won since his debut here, but took advantage of a falling mark to storm clear at Leicester on his second race back; raised 10lbs for that he was by no means embarrassed when a close 4th to Eccleston at Haydock lto; dlr 22d; thanks to his rider’s claim, meets the winner on 8lbs better terms for 1l; showed at Ripon in April he can handle today’s and a contender.
Adam’s Ale 6-9-2 (82) Dr 4
03 Jun Cl 3 Hc 6f gd/sf Rip 14/1 1.75l 4/10 off 83 SF 74 Rat 82.3
led, ridden over 1f out, headed and edged right inside final furlong, no extra
18 May Cl 3 Hc 5f gd/fm Red 14/1 3.75l 7/8 off 85 SF 57
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Won for MIdgely last year before joining present yard last September; best effort to date for new connections when 4th to Mississippi at Ripon lto; dlr 11d; down 1lb, so meets the winner on 4lbs better terms, but has never won above Cl 5 and is 10lbs above last winning mark in June last year; hard to see as a contender.

Just the one N/R due to the change in going, but for once not one of mine. A race to be wary of with no confirmed front-runner in the field, with Snap Shots and Adam’s Ale the most likely to lead the charge. From the betting, Exchequer looks popular, which may be because of the jockey/trainer pairing, as he’s unproven over 6f and thus doesn’t make my final shortlist. Nor for that matter do Adam’s Ale or the 3yo Snap Shots who is taking on older horses for the first time. There’s not a lot between the trio I’ve got left, but I’ve got to go with Eccleston to again deny Canyari with Mississippi filling out the frame.