UK Horse Racing Tips: Doncaster

Trainer Scott Dixon won this last year and has a chance of a repeat with Dark Shot, who faces his easiest task since October last year. He can go well, but TRIGGERED didn't get the rub of the green when eighth at Leicester on his return to the turf and may do better now wearing a tongue-tie and an eye-shield. James Doyle rides and he looks potentially well handicapped having won off higher marks in the past. Hail Sezer seems at his best on a fast surface and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Triggered 2nd Dark Shot 3rd Hail Sezer

COURAGEOUS KNIGHT has let favourite backers down on both starts thus far, with a fourth at Nottingham in May followed by a nose second at Haydock last time on soft ground. As a son of Dubawi, the better going here ought to be more to his liking and he may have been found a suitable race to get off the mark. Stablemate Quinault cost 310,000gns and may well be the one to follow the suggestion home, though Afterlife pulled too hard on his debut and might do a lot better if settling here.
Prediction : 1st Courageous Knight 2nd Quinault 3rd Afterlife

Frog And Toad is the only course winner in the field but he needs to bounce back from a poor run at Pontefract last month. He could still go well but preference is for ANTAGONIZE, who was left with too much to do when running on into second at Thirsk last month but races off the same mark here. He must have every chance if he can be kept nearer to the early pace, while Truth In Jest is another to consider on his first try at a mile after going under by a neck when third over a furlong shorter last time.
Prediction : 1st Antagonize 2nd Frog And Toad 3rd Truth In Jest

A few of these have something to prove, but certainly not NIETZSCHE'S STAR, who arrives here on a hat-trick following comfortable successes at both Lingfield and Newbury. Andrew Balding's charge can take the step up in grade in his stride as he looks to fend off the likes of Bayraq and Maytree Respite, who shaped with promise in a big-field novice event at Doncaster earlier in the month. Vintage Choice needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Haydock.
Prediction : 1st Nietzsches Star 2nd Maytree Respite 3rd Bayraq

Trainer Ralph Beckett has an excellent record on Town Moor and STAR FORTRESS can provide him with another winner, following a highly encouraging debut effort at Windsor. Croachill ran to a similar level on her first outing at Chelmsford and she is likely to be thereabouts, though Newcastle scorer Royal Scandal faces a stiffer task under a penalty. Love You Grandpa brings the most experience to this affair and she is not to be underestimated either.
Prediction : 1st Star Fortress 2nd Croachill 3rd Love You Grandpa

A case can be made for most of these but the tentative vote goes to NOVA LEGEND. James Ferguson's colt found himself outpaced over 1m4f at Leicester in May but, up in trip and with a visor applied for the first time, he could find the necessary improvement to come out on top. Similar comments apply to Mugader, who may have been unsuited by soft ground at Goodwood earlier this month, while handicap debutants Havaila and Highland Frolic head the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Nova Legend 2nd Mugader 3rd Havaila

HURT YOU NEVER bumped into an in-form rival (now rated 74) at Nottingham earlier this month and from an unchanged mark, she looks the one to beat. Adrian Nicholls' charge can repel the challenge of Eruption, whose consistent profile makes her a leading contender. Almodovar Del Rio drops in class and must enter calculations, along with He's So Brazen, who could take a step forward on his handicap bow.
Prediction : 1st Hurt You Never 2nd Eruption 3rd Almodovar Del Rio