Brits take aim at Dundalk Group 3 and hat-trick seeker at Wolverhampton - punting pointers for Friday
Punting pointers from each of today's race meetings . . .
Doncaster: Dakota Gold owners bid for repeat with Falls
Owners Doug Graham, Ian Davison and Alan Drysdale landed the 6f handicap (3.18) with Dakota Gold last year and bid to repeat the feat with Commanche Falls.
The seven-year-old has won 12 of his 44 starts, with his last success coming in the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York last year.
Commanche Falls finished sixth in the Ayr Gold Cup on his penultimate start – he was drawn the lowest of the first nine home – and was a keeping-on fifth at Ascot last time.
His trainer Michael Dods said: "He's well, but he's been struggling all season with the handicapper. I think fast ground suits him better, I know he's won on soft, but he struggled on it at Ascot last time. I think Doncaster will be pretty bad, but we'll have to see how he goes."
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old Altmore is a warm favourite and arrives with a 2-3 record after wins at Chepstow and Pontefract.
Doncaster stat: Mayday Malone could maintain Bell's perfect record
Michael Bell has a 2-2 record with nursery runners at Doncaster in the last five years. He runs Mayday Malone, who was a beaten favourite at Goodwood last time, in the opening mile event (1.33).
Dundalk: Brits attempt to shine again in Mercury
There is every chance that Britain's fine record in the feature Group 3 William Hill-sponsored Mercury Stakes (7.30) continues.
Six of the last ten runnings have been won by British-trained runners and Portland fourth Albasheer and dual Group 3 second Electric Storm are among five runners travelling over for the €55,000 contest.
David O'Meara saddles Star Of Lady M, a winner of three of her last four starts including in Listed company at Ayr most recently.
Tees Spirit, a last-start conditions stakes winner at Beverley, will likely force the pace for the father and daughter combination of Adrian and Mia Nicholls, while Tom Dascombe bids to win the race with a two-year-old for the second time since 2019 with Seraphim Angel.
The home challenge is headed by Andrew Slattery's juvenile Powerful Nation, who was an unlucky third in Listed company over course and distance last time.
Newbury: Beckett takes triple-runner approach
Ralph Beckett saddles three runners in a mile novice (4.36) he has won twice in recent years.
Beckett landed both divisions of the race in 2020 with Scope and Aleas, with the first-named winning the Prix Royal-Oak the following year.
The Highclere-owned Centigrade looks a leading player for the Kimpton Down trainer on the back of a debut short-head second to Jonquil at Sandown in August. He is ridden by Richard Kingscote.
Hector Crouch is aboard the Valmont and Michael Blencowe-owned newcomer Majestic Leo, who was a 170,000gns Book 1 purchase last year.
Beckett saddles another debutant in the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned Thosewerethedays, who cost €110,000 at a breeze-up sale in May and is partnered by Eddy Greatrex.
Sligo: Colonel Mustard found winning opportunity on return
The classy Colonel Mustard has been found a good opportunity to register a first win since his maiden hurdle success in October 2021 in the opening 2m2f hurdle (2.00).
Colonel Mustard has finished third in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle for the last two seasons and his other efforts last term included a second in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and fifth in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Lorna Fowler-trained nine-year-old bids to end a 14-race losing run and official ratings suggest he should be too good for his three rivals.
Solness, trained by Joseph O'Brien, reverts to hurdling having landed a handicap chase at Listowel last time, while the consistent Kings Hill arrives on the back of a four-length second to The Wallpark at Galway last month. Any Road was third in a Listed handicap hurdle at Cork in March but faces a stiff task at the weights.
Sligo stat: Smith can enhance course record on Cajun
James Smith has enjoyed three winners from nine rides at Sligo, posting a £1 level-stake profit of +£15.75. He partners Ragin Cajun in the 3m1½f handicap hurdle (4.50).
Wolverhampton: hat-trick bid for Unassuming
Middleham Park's Unassuming goes for a hat-trick since joining George Boughey in the 7f fillies' handicap (5.05).
The four-year-old had three starts in maidens for Joseph O'Brien and has proved a shrewd 9,500gns acquisition for connections.
Unassuming was an easy winner on her stable debut at Southwell last month and followed up under a penalty at the same track three days later.
She is off a 12lb higher mark compared with her first success and carries top weight, so more will be required in this company.
Middleham Park's Mike Prince said: "She's grand. The handicapper has put her up 12lb for her two wins, which is fair as she did it nicely, but we backed her up quickly to run under a penalty. She's had a freshen up, George is really happy and hopefully she puts in another big run."
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