Sam King returns with three selections for this stellar Saturday’s action.
Doncaster passed it's precautionary 7.30am inspection so racing goes ahead on the Town Moor. Conditions will certainly be testing, but that should pose no problems for Ice Max in the opening Doncaster Groundworks And Reinforcements Nursery (1.35).
Karl Burke's colt might not have beaten much last-time-out on his handicap debut at Catterick, but the manner of his eleven-length demolition really caught the eye and the number he posted on the clock backs up the performance.
He was quite disappointing at Listed level over today's course and distance prior to that heavy ground Catterick romp but I'm happy enough to put a line through that effort. The striking son of Dark Angel looked like a colt to follow when winning at the Yorkshire venue last time and I wouldn't be at all surprised were he to shrug off that 11lb hike in the weights stepping back up in grade.
Selection: Ice Max – General 5/2
Later on the card, Ballymount Boy should take all the beating back under favourable conditions in the Listed William Hill Prospect Stakes (2.45).
With an official rating of 104, Adrian Keatley's charge sets a clear standard and takes a sizeable drop in grade in an attempt to get back to winning ways this afternoon. The tough son of Camacho was hardly disgraced in Group 1 company on ground that wouldn't have suited last-time-out and will really appreciate the return to this softer surface.
His second-place finish behind subsequent Middle Park winner Vandeek on soft ground in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is definitely the best form on offer, and with the drop back to six furlongs also a positive, the Adrian Keatley-trained juvenile should be back in the winners' enclosure on the Town Moor this afternoon.
Selection: Ballymount Boy – General 6/4
Away from Doncaster, Cheltenham's opening meeting continues and I'm keen to take on Flooring Porter in the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices' Chase (4.10).
Flooring Porter was much the best of these over hurdles winning twice at the top level, but he switches to this new discipline at the eight and at the current prices I prefer the younger more unexposed Weveallbeencaught.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has kicked off the 2023 jumps season in fine form and it's interesting son Sam opts to ride this horse over stablemate Broadway Boy, who made a winning chasing debut at Warwick last-time-out.
It's clear this horse was held in some regard on the back of his bumper success, and he created a big impression when winning a maiden hurdle here in January.
His next three outings all came in Grade 1 company and although things didn't go to plan at Leopardstown or Aintree, the son of Getaway did show what he was capable of when seventh in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
I'd hazard a strong guess we haven't seen the best of this horse yet and the switch to chasing could be just what he needs to bring out that ability. Theere are few better than getting a horse to jump
with fluency first-time-out over fences than Nigel Twiston-Davies and I fully expect this unexposed six-year-old to serve it up to the dual Grade 1 scorer Flooring Porter on his chasing bow.
Selection: Weveallbeencaught – General 2/1
