Luke Morris thinks he has a chance with an improving horse at Doncaster this weekend

The first Classics of the season have arrived with the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas and everyone has been buzzing in Newmarket in the build up to the weekend.

It’s always great to see the Classic horses out in action after the winter and Aidan O’Brien looks to have a really strong hand in both races. As you’ll know from reading my blog, I’m a massive fan of Minding and think she’ll take all the beating in the 1,000 Guineas and Air Force Blue will be tough to beat in the 2,000 Guineas too.

However, if I was a betting man I think he’s too short for a horse that may not stay the mile. Massaat caught my eye as a horse that would have improved from two to three being a big, scopey horse and I think he will be bang there at the finish giving Air Force Blue something to think about. I’m at Newmarket and Doncaster on Saturday hoping to grab a winner or two and I think I can with a bit of luck.

2.00 Newmarket – Strong Steps
His main job in life now is as the lead horse for Galileo Gold and I think he’s been working reasonably well with that horse. Of off a handicap mark of 88 I think he’s more than capable of running well in this race, and hopefully working with a very good horse might even help bring about a bit of extra improvement in him. He’s also at the right end of the weights with only 8st 8lb and there are not too many sleepers in the race that we don’t know too much about.

He drops back to five furlongs having run really well when fourth in the Abernant Stakes at the Craven meeting last time. He’s never run over the minimum trip in his life so that’s a slight question mark about him in this race. There is plenty of pace in there with the likes of Move In Time and Take Cover running, so if they go very hard in front I’d like to think he can be there to pick up the pieces at the end.

6.45 Doncaster – Sliceoflife
He’s Marco Botti’s first two-year-old runner of the year and he’s been working well at home with older horses. I’d like to think he can put up a bold show even though Marco’s horses tend to come on from their first start.

7.15 Doncaster – Dream Mover
I rode him on his first start of the year over six furlongs at Kempton and it was quite sharp for him. He won next time over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton and it’s that same trip today, but I think he’ll improve for being on the turf. He had a wind op over the winter which I think has made a big difference to him and he’s a lovely big, scopey horse too. He’s at the right end of the handicap to make an impact. The horses he beat at Wolverhampton are now rated 94 and 98 and he was racing off pretty much levels last time. I sure there’s more improvement in him especially off his rating.

7.45 Doncaster – Vilman
I don’t think he stayed two miles last time. He’d had a wind op over the winter but I think there are question marks about how well it’s worked. He does have the perfect trip and perfect conditions in this race and everything is there for him to run well. If the wind op has made an impact then he has every chance.

All the best,
Tom