Flat Season Start (Hopefully) 22nd March

[chris34]

5.20 Doncaser First day of flat season and what a damp squid it could turn out to be with the meeting at serious risk so don’t want to write too much and also this early season can be tough to work out. Gloriam is interesting in that he is unexposed but Ruth Carr’s runners are appearing to need the run and not in much form. Green Park will handle underfoot conditions and is on a winnable mark on best form and finished last year in competitive mode but record fresh is poor. Docofthebay comes here fitter than most, will handle soft conditions but wouldn’t want it getting much tougher. Potentially on a good mark having placed off higher marks last year on turf so solid e/w chances if conditions hold. Personal Touch largely consistent last year and should handle conditions but his mark looks to hold him on the balance of his form last year. Showboating comes here fit and gets to race off a lower turf mark, is capable in these conditions but probably better on faster ground. Warfare hasn’t been seen since December when narrowly defeated by Kickingthelily off 74 now off 76, won off 74 off turf in soft conditions last year at Ascot but record fresh not perfect (ran well first time up) The Osteopath will relish conditions and won first time up last year off a mark of 74 now 2lb lower after an average season but may need the run at the age of 10 in a much stronger race than last year. Steel Stockholder might be worth taking a chance on, yard not had a runner yet so yard form is taken on trust and record fresh not great but has ran ok fresh. He was last seen winning at Musselburgh in extremely good style after a slowly progressive season. Up 4lb for that effort and that looks fairly solid form for the time of year so if he can continue progression this year has a solid e/w chance at a price. 0.5pt e/w Steel Stockholder 14/1 bet365

[smith17]

Re: Flat Season Start (Hopefully) 22nd March 1.25 Doncaster: Kraka Gym, win (no prices yet) Kraka Gym is a Clodovil colt out of a Sillery mare. Clodovil won both his starts as a 2yo, including his first over 5f on very soft ground. He went on to win a group 3 and a group 1 on good to soft ground. His offspring have a good record as 2yo's with 34% of them winning, with an 11% SR from 572 runs. They have an 11% SR on soft and heavy ground. Trainer Mick Easterby had a winner yesterday with today's jockey, Graham Gibbons, on board. His only 2yo runner in March last year won. 2.00 Doncaster: Ronaldinho, 4/1 Bet365, win Ronaldinho won his last race of last season over a mile on this track on soft ground. He is up three pounds for that win but he was progressing well last season, bar his second last run in which he was given a poor ride imo, and there could be a bit of improvement to come. He steps up to 1m2f which should suit as he has finished strongly over a mile before and is related to a couple of good hurdlers including impressive Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor. He has placed on heavy ground so today's shouldn't be a problem. Trainer Richard Hannon has a good record at Doncaster with a 19% SR for a lsp of £57.17 and he sends just two runners today. He is in great form with 5 winners from just 18 runners this month. Champion jockey Richard Hughes is in the saddle. 2.30 Doncaster: Cracking Lass, 5/1 BetVictor, win Cracking Lass won this race in 2011. She beat the two horses ahead of her in the betting last October over today's distance on soft ground. Current favourite Model Pupil was 2L behind in third while Genzy was a further 6L behind in fourth. That was MP's last run while Genzy hasn't run since the middle of November. Cracking Lass has had a couple of runs over hurdles and was tried in a listed race but was well beaten in that but she will be race fit today while the others might not be 100%. In the last three years a short priced favourite has been beaten in this race. Trainer Richard Fahey has a decent record at Doncaster and he normally hits form at this time of the year. Paul Hanagan is a big plus in the saddle. He rode this horse when it won over c&d. 3.35 Doncaster: Annunciation, 11/2 Bet365, win Annunciation ran on polytrack in France last week which should have blown away any cobwebs and put him right for today's race. He has been given a mark of 94 which looks fair given his form and he should go close off top weight. He finished just 2L behind Reckless Abandon in his second start over 5f at today's track. He finished third in the listed Two-Year-Old Trophy in his last start of last year on soft ground. Trainer Richard Hannon has a good record at Doncaster with a 19% SR for a lsp of £57.17 and he sends just two runners today. He is in great form with 5 winners from just 18 runners this month. Champion jockey Richard Hughes is in the saddle. 4.45 Doncaster: Artistical, win (no prices yet) Artistical is making his debut today. He is an Excellent Art colt out of a Dominion Royale mare. Excellent Art's offspring have a good record on soft and heavy ground, with a 23% SR from 124 runs. His mare won two listed races. Trainer William Haggas has a decent record at Doncaster. Top class jockey Ryan Moore is in the saddle. He has ridden 3 winners and 2 places from just 7 rides in the UK this month (he is 8 from 20 this year in the UK). Trainer and jockey have a 31% SR together from over a hundred runs.