Doncaster Day 3 Racing Tips: A tasty bet for the Doncaster Cup

As far as punting cards go, Doncaster on Friday is right down there, and in fact the meeting isn't really rocking my betting boat so far this week.

Occasionally, you are subjected to 1,500-plus words of my guff, so at least today's briefer column - due to lack of strong fancies - won't take up as much of your time as usual.

I have found just two small plays - never tip or punt for the sake of it - but let's go through the card in chronological order.

Worthy favourite in Group 3 but a wide open Flying Childers

I think Nemoralia should be plying her trade in better races than the Group 3 at 13:55 so I am in no rush to oppose here, even at a shade of odds-on.

She may have been beaten in all her Group 1 starts, but she has generally excelled in that grade, and the devastating turn of foot she showed in winning at York last time should swallow these up at the furlong marker. She has come a long way since winning the nursery at this meeting off a mark of 87 last year.

The Flying Childers at 14:30 has attracted a field of some depth, but no stand-out performer.

I wouldn't quibble with anyone tipping up any one from seven likely lads and lasses from this 12-strong line-up, and I genuinely don't have a strong opinion in the race. If pressed, I would plump for Afandem at the prices as an improving, in-form, course winner but I won't be having a bet in the race.

Polarisation to light up Mallard Stakes

I cringed when I read in a paper earlier in the week that "the Mallard drives me quackers" - I thought it was a sub-editor getting cheesy with a headline but it was actually in the copy itself, unbelievably - but, anyway, the 1m6f132yd handicap at 15:05 - the Mallard Stakes - is a tricky heat.

You cannot argue with Wall Of Fire being favourite. He ran away with the Melrose last time and comes here as a fast-progressing horse - he had earlier won at Haydock and been badly hampered at Goodwood - and he could still be very competitive off an 8lb higher mark than at York.

I think a Melrose winner could win this, but it may be the 2015 version as Polarisation could be worth chancing at odds of 12.011/1.

He is 17lb higher than when winning that valuable York handicap but his rise since has been fully justified as he put up a good performance when second off a mark of 100 in a good time at Epsom in June, his first run since December.

On the back of that reappearance run he was sent off an 8-1 poke for the Northumberland Plate and ran poorly but perhaps the run came too soon or he is just a better horse on turf - he is 5lb higher on it, after all, and his earlier all-weather outings at Southwell and Lingfield weren't that great - and he is worth chancing at the odds.

He isn't a great bet by any means and only a small-stakes play - he has also run poorly in his one outing here - but he comes here a fresh horse, and connections put the cheek pieces back on, so he has presumably been pleasing in them at home.

Thorough stayer worth chancing at big odds in Doncaster Cup

Mizzou is by far the likeliest winner of the Doncaster Cup at 15:40 but his odds reflect that, and you can put a few up against him.

But I am going to take a flier and suggest a small win-only bet on Sweet Selection at 33/1 on the Sportsbook.

On form to date, she has no chance - she is just rated 87, compared to Mizzou's 115 - but Hughie Morrison has his team in good form and it could be significant (or probably not...) that he is willing to put his filly in here instead of going down the handicap route with this Cesarewitch entry,

What we do know about this horse is that she will stay every yard of this trip - she won a 2m2f Newbury handicap from a fellow improver in Sea Of Heaven in July - and she even appeared to find the 2m88yd at York last time an inadequate test of stamina.

It may be pie in the sky, but I'll be chucking a few quid at her and hopefully shouting her on as she grinds her way up the Doncaster straight.

Three ATR-only races to finish the card, and any of the septet could win the Flying Scotsman at 16:15 and the 0-85 Classified Stakes at 16:50 which are there to pad out quite a lightweight four-day meeting in terms of quality.

I am not getting involved in the 17:25 so it is just the two small-stakes plays on the day. Disappointing, but never force it when the betting opportunities aren't there.

Recommended Bets

Back Polarisation at 12.011/1 in the 15:05 at Doncaster
Back Sweet Selection at 33/1 in the 15:40 at Doncaster

You can read my Saturday Horse Racing Tips behind the link.