Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster, Newbury and Cheltenham on Saturday. View selections below.
ALPHA CRUCIS (4.25), a confirmed mudlark, will have conditions in his favour in the 1m 2f William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at Doncaster.
The Gary and Josh Moore-trained gelding has notched four victories on soft/heavy ground and arrives here on the back of two excellent second spots at Sandown and Goodwood. Ashley Lewis takes off a handy 5lb.
El Burhan, raised 6lb for last month’s comfortable Ayr success, and further down the weights Sportingsilvermine, placed several times since scoring twice earlier in the campaign, can go well.
Top weight Grey Cuban, a course and distance winner last September, should handle conditions but now competes off a 12lb higher mark.
HAMISH (3.45) has been a wonderful servant to William Haggas and the nine-year-old can add another notch to his belt in the BetVictor St Simon Stakes at Newbury.
Tom Marquand’s mount lost out to Max Vega in a driving finish to this event three years ago and takes a slight drop in grade following his third to Al Qareem and Tenability at Ascot three weeks ago.
Haggas fields another strong contender in course specialist Al Aasy, an odds-on beaten favourite in this race 12 months ago, while Godolphin are represented by Ancient Wisdom, runner-up in Listed grade at Goodwood last month.
EXPRESSIONLESS (12.50) has the services of experienced Fletcher Yarham in the opening 1m 4f amateur riders’ handicap.
Trainer Dylan Cunha has enjoyed a wonderful campaign and his top weight can handle a 2lb rise for last month’s Nottingham victory. Expressionless moved strongly to the front over a furlong from home before holding on with a degree of comfort. This drop in trip will suit.
Letmebetheboss justified favouritism at Haydock last time and can go well.
ATHERSTONE WARRIOR (4.50) has been lumbered with a 10lb rise on the back of his five lengths victory over Sir William at Sandown in September but the prevailing soft ground will play to his strengths in the concluding 1m 2f handicap.
Several in-form rivals will make things tough and Alan King, winner of this event 12 months ago, strips a fancied runner in King Al, a course and distance scorer in late August before losing out on the nod at Nottingham 17 days ago.
There are some big fields to navigate in the handicaps at Cheltenham where Gordon Elliott’s WINNING SMUT (2.55) is worth a bet in the 18-runner Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
The trainer bids to supplement The Wallpark’s victory in this contest last October and Winning Smut remains on a handy weight following his Galway success at the beginning of August.
Elliott also saddles Navan maiden winner Sermandzarak but Winning Smut appears his first string.
Gowel Road runs the track brilliantly but last year’s runner-up faces a stiffer task this time round under top weight.
The likes of Long Draw and Tiny Tetley are likely to show up in a better light for the home team as they bid to beat off a strong Irish challenge.
Several firms are offering five places each-way.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
