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14.35, Doncaster – Mascat
The more this consolation race has been run the better the quality of subsequent renewals and there are at least five entries in this Spring Mile Handicap that certainly wouldn’t be out of place in the Lincoln itself.
With only nine runs under his belt, unexposed four-year-old MASCAT has quite obviously not been easy to train and that has been further enforced by the ending of any career at stud with the cruellest cut.
Judged by his latest runs during 2020 though, I didn’t really detect any negative traits to his running style with arguably his best performance coming when keeping on in really good style when ¾l off the potentially smart Brentford Hope at Haydock Park in October. I have upgraded that run as the winner is quite obviously a proven mud lark and Ralph Beckett’s charge is definitely no one-trick ‘going’ pony.
The cream on the cake is that the handicapper has dropped him 1lb to 89 for his last run which to be fair to the horse was his seventh outing of the season and his second successive on deep ground and can easily be forgiven.
Of his rivals, I have the most regard for course and distance winner Artistic Rifles, very much suited by the drying conditions.
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15.25, Newbury – Lilly Pedlar
Several of these lightly-raced mares are almost certainly still hiding their true ability under a bushel and the likes of Rose of Arcadia, Paris Dixie and Kilmington Rose could readily outfox the assessor in this valuable final.
But on a galloping track and decent ground over 2½m, the Nicky Henderson first string LILLY PEDLAR looks something to bet on with racing stars now finally aligned for her.
The daughter of Yeats has looked a shade short of pace over 2m on a sharp track on heavy ground (Taunton) when simply outpaced behind Allavina and simply ran way too freely at Wincanton two outings back again on deep winter ground.
I think that the handicapper has been rather lenient in letting her reside on a mark of 118 (1lb lower than at the Somerset track), and with a fast pace assured, Nico de Boinville should be able to get her to relax into the contest with the long run home most definitely in her favour.
15.45, Doncaster – Royal Commando (EW)
Brando is a fair way clear on the official ratings and his record first time out is more than adequate, but he has been more difficult to get fit for the last two seasons and at around 2/1 makes no appeal as a win play.
So we are going to go for an each-way call on Charlie Hills’ ROYAL COMMANDO, who remains open to significant improvement at the age of four with just nine runs under his belt.
This time last season he opened his campaign with a cracking 4¼l fourth to subsequent Royal Ascot winner Golden Horde after which he failed to sparkle on two runs at 7f, simply not seeing out the trip.
First time up may well be the time to catch him and his middle draw from box number six means that Kieran Shoemark will be able to hide him in the pack and get him into a lovely rhythm through the first half of the race.
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16.55, Doncaster – Le Bayou
Selecto is a horse I have been following for some time and Mick Channon has an excellent record at this lower level of handicaps. However, I think the ground may have dried up way too much for this son of Paco Boy, but he is worth bearing in mind if we do get a wet spring.
But for the purposes of this low grade 1¼m contest I fancy we will get a huge run out of out the bottom weight and outsider LE BAYOU.
Trained by the shrewd Les Eyre, the son of Dabirism was rated as high as 80 when running a fair race over 1m at the Town Moor track last June. Since then he has plummeted down the handicap, but there were signs at Southwell that he retains more ability than his current mark suggests. I also think that the selection has been absolutely crying out for a step up to 1¼m, for only the second time in his career, and he looks massive value in a competitive race for this level.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Paul Jacobs’ bet summary – Saturday, March 27
14.35, Doncaster – Mascat
15.25, Newbury – Lilly Pedlar
15.45, Doncaster – Royal Commando (EW)
16.55, Doncaster – Le Bayou
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