5:15 Doncaster Tips

Having finished in the frame on his three runs on the all-weather, Explode was fitted with a tongue strap on his first turf start, which was at Salisbury towards the end of last month, where he duly won by four lengths. He takes a step up in class today and once again runs on turf with the tongue strap fitted. With Oisin Murphy back in the saddle, every chance Explode can maintain his unbeaten record on turf.

If the 1st-time hood can settle Roger Varian's 3yo he'll take plenty of beating here. I think he'll prove to be better than a mark of 87.

Crowd Quake has shown a high level of form this year and he has improved with every run, already winning twice at this level and sets a strong standard in this contest.

Up 2lb here. Top young jockey Billy Loughnane takes the ride. Has run well over a mile and a half before, and no surprise were that to continue here.

The 4yo is an interesting runner in this 12f handicap. He has 2 wins from 9 in turf flat races and runner-up twice. He was a good 4L winner last autumn over this 12f trip on heavy ground, the field strung out behind, only slightly higher in the weights now. He has since joined the good jumps trainer Harry Derham. He won back-to-back hurdle races earlier in the year including a 9 runner juvenile hurdle race by 20L, and he could now be a lot stronger since his last flat run. Thunder and rain forecast for Wednesday and the ground could get quite testing come race time.

Fox Journey might be worth a small each way investment in this tricky looking handicap. I thought he ran a little better at Ripon last time, albeit beaten a fair distance. This represents a drop in class, and the very good Wayne Fentiman claims a further five.