Van Der Neer can deliver Hannon’s first Racing Post Trophy
THE two-year-old Racing Post Trophy (3.05pm) is a race that often throws up clues for the following year’s big events with previous winners, including Motivator, Authorized and last year’s victor Camelot, all going on to win Classics.
It’s a race that Aidan O’Brien targets with his best juveniles and the maestro has trained six winners of this showpiece already. When the yard really fancy one of their runners they normally only run that horse and, having removed their other five at the final declaration stage, it looks safe to say they are keen on the once-raced Kingsbarns.
As big as 8/1 at the start of the week, the son of Galileo has been backed off the boards and is now 15/8 with Coral. Last year Camelot was heavily supported throughout the week and won in effortless style at odds-on. It is quite likely Kingsbarns could go off even shorter and, although he could be anything, the value has long gone.
Instead, VAN DER NEER from Richard Hannon’s yard looks worth supporting. Despite his reputation as the best juvenile handler in the land, Hannon has never won tomorrow’s feature but this Dutch Art colt must go close. Working with the best of them back home, he was an impressive winner on debut and stepped up to seven furlongs to triumph with authority over a very well-regarded John Gosden runner last time.
Neither the ground nor the step-up to a mile should hold any fears and at 5/1 with Coral, he is worth a bet.
In the preceding race (2.30pm) DUNGANNON should give a good account. Andrew Balding’s inmate has been running in competitive handicaps all season and dropping back to five furlongs will see the pacy son of Monsieur Bond in a
better light.
In the 4.10pm, INVINCIBLE WARRIOR can make a bold bid for Listed glory. He made a good impression on debut and then won readily next time out. After just two starts he is less exposed than a number of these and the Brian Meehan yard is firing.
Today at Turf Moor, BREDEN can land the opening Yorkshire Radio Maiden Stakes (1.40pm). Gosden’s charge was slightly green on debut but showed promise and he can expect to improve on that pipe opener in a moderate looking contest.
Meehan’s PATENTLY can
kick off a good weekend for
the Manton team 10 minutes later in the Join Hot To Trot Racing Club Maiden Stakes at Newbury. Meehan debutants always improve for their first run and a better display is expected this afternoon.
ANCIENT CROSS is a typical sprinter that you need to catch just right but everything looks in his favour for the 3.15pm six-furlong dash. He may not have won for some time but a series of consistent efforts have made it hard for the handicapper to relent. However, now 4lb lower than his last win and drawn up with the pace, Paul Mulrennan’s mount can go close for an in-form Mick Easterby yard.
■ Pointers…
BREDEN 1.40pm Doncaster (today)
PATENTLY 1.50pm Newbury (today)
ANCIENT CROSS e/w 3.15pm Doncaster (today)
DUNGANNON e/w 2.30pm Doncaster
(tomorrow)
VAN DER NEER e/w 3.05pm Doncaster
(tomorrow)
INVINCIBLE WARRIOR e/w 4.10pm Doncaster
(tomorrow)