Top pundit Tony Elves has three selections, including a strongly fancied John Gosden newcomer.
SATANIC BEAT is fancied to gain a deserved success over hurdles in the Bet365.com Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster today.
The Dark Angel gelding has put in several decent efforts this term without getting his head in front and probably ran his best race of the season in a competitive event at Huntingdon last Sunday. The seven-year-old was in front from the second under Ryan Winks and it was only at the last that the partnership succumbed to the Richard Johnson-ridden New Member who took his measure by only a length and a quarter. There was a length break to the well-supported Vinnie Red and he was able reverse earlier Kempton placing with Heron’s Heir who was a head away in fourth.
He should find this track very much to his liking and Phil Middleton’s gelding looks worth a 1pt investment.
“Horses for courses” in a maxim that often holds a lot weight and SEGO SUCCESS appeals as the likely winner of the Bet365.com Handicap Chase (12.55) for a second year running. The Alan King-trained gelding needed a couple of outing before making all for five length victory from Reaping The Reward off a mark of 139 in this race a year ago and ran a solid race at Bangor last month when third, beaten five and three quarter lengths, to Valadom.
Sego Success was having his first run since April and can be expected to improve for that outing and he looks good enough give the weight to his ten rivals with Valadom (pulled up on his latest start) 7lb worse off on Bangor running. Sego Success was held up on that occasion but don’t be surprised if the front running tactics are employed this time and he looks worth a 1pt investment too.
John Gosden had to ease off the throttle earlier in the Summer as a result of a virus that was effecting Newmarket which resulted in a glut of two-year-olds that have either seen action recently or about to take wing. There have been plenty of encouraging reports from the gallops of POETIQUE who make his debut in the Pinnacle-Share Prize Draw Maiden at Newcastle (12.15) and the Halling colt is expected to hold sway over the similarly unraced Oden from Roger Varian’s stable.
