Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece, which for me is very short for me, I preview Sunday’s Doncaster card.

Trainers are ‘creatures of habit’ and there are four horses who went close on this day at Doncaster 12 months ago. Three of them won their respective races and one finished a ¾ length runner-up.

Doncaster

1:20 – Last year’s winner Clansman wasn’t declared on Friday, but runner-up Captain Haddock was, and can race off 4lb lower.

3:05 – Aleezdancer won this 6f handicap last year off today’s mark. Soft ground suits and we know the 5-year-old goes well fresh. Mind you his good mark hasn’t been lost on the bookmakers with sponsors William Hill having made him the 9/2 favourite.  Woven form figures over C&D are 21. That win came on his seasonal reappearance last May on soft ground and he shouldn’t be far away.

3:40 – Bucephalus won this 1m 2f handicap last year. He’s 5lb higher than 12 months ago but just like last year trainer Neil Mulholland has booked a 7lb apprentice for the ride. Bucephalus was a good winner over hurdles earlier in the month so comes into the race in good form and should go close here.

4:50 – Little Muddy was successful in this 5f handicap last year, from 7lb lower on her seasonal reappearance. The 8-year-old is just 3lb above her last winning mark and is on a handy mark on her return to action. Harry’s Halo won a heavy ground handicap at Doncaster (6f) in November 2022 and went close here (6f) last July. He goes very well on soft ground and if he’s ready roll after a 141-day break is handicapped to go close.

Besides Doncaster there's a good Sunday card for Ascot's final jumps fixture of the winter season. Plus, there's some good flat racing at Naas. The Naas feature is the Madrid Handicap (3:10) which 12 months ago was won by a colt called Paddington.

Sunday Selection:

Doncaster

3:40 – Bucephalus.

Good luck with your Sunday bets.

John