Paul Kealy's play of the day at Doncaster

Vintage Clarets

2.25 Doncaster

I must be mad in preferring unfathomable handicaps to the high quality stuff, but I've always preferred betting speculatively at big prices over confidently at shorter ones, although I'm quite confident in the chances of Vintage Clarets running a big race at a good price here.

The Richard Fahey-trained five-year-old has started to run into form, as he did at around this stage last year, and has been a little better than the bare result of his eighth places at both Ascot and York on his last two starts, particularly last time when he was the meat in the sandwich at the start and was badly hampered.

He'd finished close up in that race last year before coming home in fifth in the Portland having got to the front too soon, and after that he went on to win races at York and Catterick, ending the season rated 97.

He's steadily dropped this season despite some good runs, and is now on a mark of 90, which is lower than for those last two wins. In the last couple of seasons he has won three times from nine outings in September or October and been in the first three in three more.

This is his time of year, he is undeniably capable of winning off his mark and Jamie Spencer, having his first ride for Richard Fahey in more than a year, is a perfect booking, given the five-year-old could do with being dropped on the line at the last second.

Vintage Clarets14:25 Doncaster

View Racecard

Jky: Jamie Spencer Tnr: Richard Fahey

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