-
Ground to suit sprinter in Portland
-
Brunch can win for the first time since 2021
-
Two races today with five and six places
Doncaster - 14:25: Back Makanah EW
The curse of the second place struck again yesterday with Sweet William for the column, and the lowest of the week with a 1.141/7 in-running saw him duck out of the challenge against Trueshan. Hopefully the three seconds at Donny can convert into a win today.
Makanah appeals greatly in the big handicap of the day with the Portland and despite a return to form last time at York, he was a drifter on the Sportsbook this morning from 12/113.00 to 16/117.00, and with the extra place on offer, looks each-way material once again.
The 8yo was given a chance by the assessor from 96 on the Knavesmire and ran a cracker from a poor draw behind Equilateral, and only went down three-quarters of a length in the end and was one of the sprinters right up against the stands' side - which was the opposite to where the pace was.
His final 3f were all quicker than Equilateral and he also produced a rapid 10.36 sectional in the race early to show he was really zipping along.
The veteran has form in soft ground and I can see the long straight at Donny suiting him. Whether the draw is a problem is the question as the top trio on the market are all berthed with a low pitch, and today Makanah will find himself him in 18.
He does have a 5f win at the track to his name and has produced several good runs in defeat here, and with him remaining on 96 and unchanged after York, I do like his chance to run a good race again to get into the first six places.
Doncaster - 17:20: Back Brunch EW
Another double figure price for the second selection and Brunch at 10s has dipped under three figures in terms of his mark and is still after a revival of sorts in terms of form as he hasn't won for a while.
However, he does have a couple of things in his favour - namely form at the track in heavy ground, and we've seen over the two days at Town Moor, it has taken a bit of getting.
He's had a couple of runs in the Lincoln down the years and was seen at the start of the season over CD in the Spring Mile - a race in which he finished second.
Brunch might be wanting a little further these days, but save for a poor effort at Newbury from his four outings this term, he hasn't totally lost the plot despite no win since 2021 and was placed at York in 0-105 company on his latest start over 1m3f, and that stamina with soft ground today should help him back down in distance.
His trainer Michael Dods hasn't had a runner so far at the Leger meeting which is a surprise, and Brunch at his best and peak has been a Listed and Group 3 performer, but he is not one to abandon just yet.
*Click here for Daryl Carter's selections and tips for Saturday