Racing Post trophy at Doncaster

The Group One Racing Post Trophy for 2yo´s over a mile at 16.05 CET is the last big juvenile race of the year in the U.K. and Ireland and has always been the best guide to the following season´s classics. So we won´t really know how good this field is until next year, but on the face of it this looks a weak renewal - none of the 7 runners has run in a Group One and most of them have never run in a group race at all.

However we cannot forget that Camelot won this last year off a single start in a maiden, and his connections may well repeat this feat with Kingsbarns (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien), a very easy winner against weak opposition in a Navan maiden 17 days ago on his only start. O´Brien- who has not won a single 2yo race in Britain this year, had plenty of entries there, but relies on just this one, which suggests plenty of confidence. We expect an Irish winner here, as First Cornerstone (Andy Oliver/ Chris Hayes) and Trading Leather (Jim Bolger/ Kevon Manning) look his most serious opponents. The best of the Brits are the supplemented Van Der Meer (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) -also moving up sharply in grade - and the typically tough Mark Johnston contender Steeler (Kieren Fallon). There are question marks over all the runners - the form, the soft ground, the distance, so this is not a race for maximum stakes; we think that Kingsbarns is probably the likeliest winner, but at the current odds First Cornerstone looks the best bet.

The listed Doncaster Stakes, also for 2yo´s but over 6 furlongs at 17.10, is the main supporting feature. Taayel(John Gosden/ Tadhg O´Shea) is the clear form choice here aftrer his close third in the Mill Reef. but is unproven on the ground. Emell (Hannon/ Hughes) and the only filly in the field Jillndextdoor (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley) look his two most dangerous opponents.

The handicaps here look very difficult. We have a gut feeling, not backed up by any rational considerations, that Classic Vintage (Amanda Perrett/ Jimmy Fortune) will run well in the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 15.00. He has been totally out of form, but has come down in tjhe weights as a result, and likes this track, having finished 4th and 5th in the last two runnings of the November Handicap over this CD off a much higher rating.

The 5 furlongs handicap half an hour later looks almost impossible. The two form choices are Doc Hay (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhoper)., whoi won the Portland here and last time out a listed race at Ascot; he ois a class act but haxs a huge weight, while Jacvk Dexter (Jim Goldie/ Grahjam lee) is an imporoving 3yo who has won his last 2 races and loves soft ground. However he won over 7 furlongs last week, and it is not certain that he will be speedy enough against the distance specialists. Our 3 against the field are Dungannon (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune), last year´s winner Steps (Roger Varian/ Andrea Atzeni) and bottom weight Kaldoun KIngdom (Richard Fahey/ Barry McHugh) but anything could happen here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Be My Rock - Gifted Dancer - Rocky Reef
2. Race: Proofreader - Lady Kashaan - Art Scholar
3. Race: Jack Dexter - Ballista - York Glory
4. Race: Kingsbarns - Trading Leather - Steeler
5. Race: Code Of Honor - Elegant In Silk - Pure Excellence
6. Race: Taayel - Emell - Invincible Warrior
7. Race: Skilful - Captain Ramius - Bronterre
8. Race: Mount Mayday - Serene Oasis - Fortrose Academy