5:45 Doncaster Tips

Brave Nation drops into a winnable contest after tackling stronger fields. He’s proven over the trip and goes well on good ground. Callum Shepherd retains the ride for a stable in solid form. From a good draw, he can stalk the pace and strike late. Strong win claims here.

Mon Na Slieve was one of the only prominent runners to be involved at the finish last time. He's down another pound and finds himself in calmer waters here. Good chance.

5 year old gelding sired by Mehmas seems to like it here. He has come 1st and 2nd in his 2 runs here both under this jockey. Winning off a handicap mark of 84 and 2nd off 94. He has been coming steadily down the handicap with some lacklustre runs recently but he has won on the going and over this course and distance and the various factors now turning in his favour should result in a better effort today.

7th of 11 in Listed Company over 6 furlongs at Haydock on the 23rd of May. Could go well back in handicap company and dropping in trip.

Won this race last year and has had a good preparation for the race again. Drops 1 lb from his latest run. Full steam ahead to reproduce another bold bid of winning the race again.

This bottom weight is friendless in the market, but has got closer in each of his 3 runs for the new trainer after being brought in from the Andrew Balding yard. He looks poised to go close now off this mark of 75 having done nearly all his racing for Balding in the mid 80s. The trainer has clearly been bringing him along slowly and there'll be no problems with the trip or ground, looks potentially better handicapped than most of these.

At the top third of the handicap mark in this field, but struggling for form. So, he keeps dropping down the weights, and it helps he's back down to the last winning mark. Hoping he can bounce back strongly.

He is an eight time winner including four wins, and a placed effort in his last eight starts. He won last time out at Thirsk (5f), and he could well defy a 4lb penalty today.

Just looks a surprising price for a class dropper, especially one that wasn't a million miles away in races a grade up during March and April. Fair enough, VENTURA EXPRESS did disappoint last time out, but not enough to dissuade me from a bet at this price. There are each-way claims against weaker opposition if that run is behind him.

BURNING CASH might have an edge as a C&D winner rated 78, especially since his last CD win came off a mark of 93 in identical conditions; he couldn't have wished for a better draw under the circumstances, but he will have to get out of the gates quickly to have any chance.

Spoof was a pretty useful horse a couple of years ago and then went on a bit of a slide during 2024. Returns from a year break and races off a handy mark of 82 with W Pyle taking off another 3lb. We could have a surprise, hopefully.