3:45 Doncaster Tips

CASTLE COVE has won two races at 1m 2f. Fourth over 1m 5f at Newbury on his latest outing in September. Dropped in trip to 1m 4f should suit. Seems well treated and could well be able to win this race.

Hopewell Rock has only had five races but has placed in all of them, including two wins in his first two races, and has plenty of time for improvement. He only just lost out in his last two races by a short head and a half a length. He has a win on heavy going from 12 runners last October, so he copes with the going. Billy Loughnane is his regular jockey.

Any overnight rain at Doncaster should not prove a problem for last year's winner, Lord Melbourne, as he has winning form on both soft and heavy ground. His final race of last season saw him win this off a mark of ninety by one length with a five-pound claimer on board. For his seasonal reappearance at Epsom, he had a different five-pound claimer on board, and he won by just over four lengths. Today, his mark has risen to one hundred and three, and the same jockey that rode him to success at Epsom remains on board. This will only be his second race of the season, so he should be fresh, and there is every chance there is some more improvement to come for this Ralph Beckett trained horse.

Ralph Beckett has a very strong hand in the November Handicap, and I favour the very lightly raced Master Vintner. The selection ran third to Scandinavia on good ground at Navan in May, which looks a fair effort given what the winner has gone on to achieve. After moving to this yard he looks to have been saved for a campaign on soft ground. He has won both starts since arriving from Ireland, and may be up to winning this big pot.

The Moores have the better fancied Archerstone Warrior in here, but I was taken by the way young Toby Moore's never-say-die attitude in Miller Spirit at Newbury LTO when he was beaten a SH, only to be disqualified for weighing in sans weight cloth. The handicapper has chosen to leave him be on a mark of 89, and he wasn't beaten far in this last year.

Not out of the first four in three starts so far this season. Carried a huge weight when finishing mid-division last time out on the all-weather at Newcastle. Looks a big price for each-way purposes with many bookies paying out on extra places and returning to turf on ground that suits, and with what looks like a favourable draw in stall fifteen.

He hasn’t really lived up to expectations but I’m giving the other MASTER (BUILDER) an each way chance at 16/1 (6 places). The son of Mastercraftsman’s runs this year have been moderate to say the least; the most notable being a 4.5l defeat on seasonal appearance at Epsom but he’s failed to place on four starts since. His mark has subsequently slipped to 89 which is just 1lb higher than his last win, coming at Haydock 14 months ago, and I think he’ll enjoy the tough conditions today given his breeding and trainer in D Menuisier who’s a genius on soft/heavy (17% SR, A/E 1.15). Probably heart over head but he’s no forlorn hope to me.

Has his optimum trip and conditions for the first time this year, and I think he will go very well here. Closely matched on form with the favorite last time, yet is almost 5 times that one's price. Excellent each-way chance for 6 places.

Just four career runs from the 3yo and we might not have seen the best of him yet. Runner-up to a smart unexposed type last time out, which was on fast g/f ground. He’s better judged on his previous start, in a Listed contest with some give in the ground. He was beaten under a length when third that day, the first and second have both run well in Group company since and are both rated a high 110. The selection has an opening handicap mark of 101 with improvement possible on his return from an 11 week break and a 5lb age allowance from most of these rivals will help his chances.

Even racing off top weight, this horse is an appealing each-way option, especially as the booking of Rossa Ryan suggests connections mean business today. A recent close-up third behind the Haggas-trained Hamish is one piece of noteworthy form, indicating that in handicap company, grey Cuban can win top weight notwithstanding. Goes well at the track and in these conditions, so a big race can be expected.

With ground up his street and having a good break for ground to come to his favor, he is a fresh horse to be going to war with. His sire is Calyx, and this line of pedigree has been noted for soft to heavy ground, which can see this four-year-old sluicing through, with stamina to see out longer trips than this.

Insanity has won 4 of his 17 starts, including on soft at Ffos Las in September '23. He won at Ayr in June and has been placed in his last 3 starts. Runner-up last month in a Class 2 handicap at York, he is just 1lb higher here and looks a good each-way bet with 6 places on offer.

Adjuvant was the beaten favorite over further at Yarmouth last time out and will welcome any further rain for place potential.

This horse is a useful dual purpose performer. Revels in soft ground and looks well handicapped on the best of his form. Has a useful claimer aboard and can reward each way support at attractive odds.

Wide draw isn't really ideal so the draw is a concern but, she arrives in form and she's proven on soft ground conditions. Ran well over 1m6f last time, may do better dropping to 1m4f today, her best form has been shown over this sort of distance. Small each-way tip.

3rd in similar ground conditions in this race last season, and although beaten fair and square by Lord Melbourne, who he meets again, he looked the winner when his big white noseband hit the front. His odds at 33/1 look far too big for six places.

Tashkhan has not won for a while and has spent this year in some better races than today when he was down the pack in G1 and G2, but in September last year, he was third in a C2 on soft at Chester off a 108 and runs off a 101 today on soft. EW 6P.

Lovely bred Ex Coolmore inmate who although clearly one of their lesser lights, still had some decent form in Ireland and that included a win on heavy ground. Clearly going to come on for stable debut Lto, when not getting home after leading in a class 2 conditions stake over 2.2 mile @ Pontefract. That was on very soft ground and interesting in they adopt similar tactics in this similar class handicap over this much shorter 1.4 miles, making current 100/1 worth Ew consideration here.

I am going to chance a small each-way bet on the quirky Majestic, who can run into one of the 6 places if showing any glimpse of previous form, and the race could be run to suit.

These odds look stupid or I'm way off as usual. Stella Barclay sends just the one runner out, and this ex A O'Brien horse, Platoon, hasn't been put into both the races it's run for her. Traps like a greyhound and then severely pulled to the rear for a jog round, causing its ratings to fall. Rab Havlin looks an interesting rider here from what looks a good draw. Will it be in the van today?