Thursday: 1.20 Hoofalong Unplaced /Kenny The Captain 2nd 1.50 Clubbable 2nd 2.25 Nyaleti [Nap] 3rd 3.00 Aljezeera 2nd /Melodic Motion Unplaced Meeting: Wins 2 Runs 9 (22%) Stakes 90 Returns 80 P/L -10 (-11%) It seems the ground is still soft - all times were well below standard today. As I've said before (yawn) that greatly compromises the form in the book when allied to the competitive nature of the racing at these festival meetings. Friday looks even more difficult than the opening two days, and I can't recommend any bets at Donny. For what it's worth, I feel that Talayeb should have a good chance in the 1.50 and that Thomas Hobson should go well in the Doncaster Cup (3.35). But I wouldn't be confident enough to put them up as bets. The Flying Childers Stakes (2.25 ought to be between Havana Grey and Heartache but choosing between them is not easy, and at 11/8 and 13/8 you can't back them both. If pressed for a bet tomorrow, I'd be looking to Sandown and ZAAJER (2.35). This one ran third at the same track on debut when very tenderly handled by Jim Crowley. Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey serves out a one-day suspension tomorrow and with second jock Dane O'Neil riding Talayeb at Donny, Fran Berry (very capable) comes in for the ride. 2/1 with most firms, I feel that this horse has a better than 33% chance of taking this race and he, alone of this field has Group 1 entries further ahead.
Live about a mile from the course and we've had quite a bit of rain around teatime so going isn't going to improve much tomorrow, of your comments Thomas Hobson was one I've my eye on tomorrow though odds are already shorting
