Sandown
1.15 The unbeaten Rafeej looks the one to beat here.
1.50 Trader Jack won on soft ground at Ffos Las last season so he should be able to handle the conditions.
2.55 Oojooba and Daneking are the pair I like here. Daneking looks on a reasonable mark and should stay further than this eventually. Oojooba should handle the soft ground given his pedigree.
3.30 Starboard should win this 3 horse race although he will be a short price.
Doncaster
3.20 Pearl Secret impressed when scoring in a York maiden on his only run last season. Bred to appreciate some cut in the ground.
4.30 This could be quite an informative contest with a number of powerful stables represented. Beyond Conceit won on heavy ground as a 2 year old so clearly is not short of stamina. Deia Sunrise won over a mile at Newcastle lasts season and looks the type to improve as he is related to a number of winners. Scrupul had three runs last season to qualify him for handicaps and looks on the sort of mark that his trainer is adept at exploiting. He will stay further than this in time. Counsel is another that could be very well handicapped and is almost certainly better than he has shown thus far. If pushed to narrow my choice down I would choose the scopey Counsel.
5.00 I think Rocket has a race or two in him. He has won off a mark 8 lbs higher than his current rating. He seems unlikely to relish soft ground however so I will pass him by on this occasion.
Picture by kind permission of the artist Sue Malkin
ahorse 