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Doncaster preview: Alfajer holds all the aces

| 23.07.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Alfajer has posted some solid efforts this season and can gain a deserved success in the 7f handicap at Doncaster this evening (19.55) now eased in grade.

The Marco Botti trained filly shaped well when chasing home the useful Wordcraft in a decent contest at Kempton on her penultimate outing, and backed that up with a career-best effort to finish fourth of 12 to Spangled in a hot class 2 affair at Newmarket.

Alfajer kept on nicely from off the pace in the latter to be beaten just 2 1/4 lengths, and the second home Muffri’Ha has since come out and bolted up by four lengths off a mark of 92.

That gives the form a solid look, and makes Alfajer’s current mark of 84 look very exploitable.

Alfajer also now drops down into class 3 company, and in a race lacking any real strength in depth this looks a glorious opportunity for the daughter of Mount Nelson to notch a second career success.

The Tin Man scored in good style last time out and looks weighted to follow-up in the 6f handicap (19.20).

The James Fanshawe gelding left his debut run well behind when scoring over course and distance last month, travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders before showing a nice turn of foot to score with far more in hand than the winning margin of one length suggests.

It was a performance which suggested the son of Equinao was one to keep onside, and and opening handicap mark of 79 may well underestimate The Tin Man’s ability.

Another plus is that the Fanshawe yard is beginning to find it’s stride after a slow start to the season, and with the prospect of plenty more to come The Tin Man can provide the Newmarket handler with another success.

Royal Signaller bounced back to form when runner-up last time out and can go one better to land the 1m 6f handicap that closes proceedings (21.00).

The gelding went down by just 3/4 of a length to the progressive Air Squadron in a warm contest at Newmarket, and the winner has scored again since to give the form a solid look.

A reproduction of that run is going to make Royal Signaller very hard to beat in what is a weaker contest, and the Michael Appleby trained gelding is running off a mark just 1lb higher than when last successful and undoubtedly weighted to go in again.

Selections:
17.45: Almohtaseb
18.15: Dragon Mall
18.45: Steventon Star
19.20: The Tin Man (NB)
19.55: Alfajer (NAP)
20.25: Sikandar
21.00: Royal Signaller

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Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.