12:30 Doncaster – Barton Knoll 11/4
2:25 Newbury – Phoenix Way 10/3
Barton Knoll
A small field but a chance is taken on last years winner, Barton Knoll, who always needs his first run of the season and so I’m happy to put a line through his last run; that race contained the likes of Midnight Shadow and quite simply, Barton Knoll was outclassed and never had a chance after failing to get to the front.
After winning this race last year, he ran some creditable races in defeat in deeper company and get he now finds himself down to a mark of 125; three pounds lower than when winning this last season (it was a better race last year, too)
Doncaster is clearly a track that plays to his and this slick jumper could dictate this small field from the front. Two and a half miles on good ground are his ideal conditions and the booking of Sean Quinlan, who has ridden him for his two most recent victories, is a big positive.
His rivals have been quite busy and have a bit to prove and so I’m happy to take a chance on Barton Knoll who, in my view, should not be the outsider here.
Phoenix Way
I’ve never really warmed to Fanion D’estruval; he jumps very low, is always prone to make a race ending mistake and because he’s always an eye catcher, he’s often very short. For that reason, I’m happy to take him on.
Phoenix Way may have been hard to keep sound but he’s undoubtedly a talented horse and now might be the time to catch him given his great record when fresh.
The form of his chase debut has worked out quite well and he ran an very nice race in Grade 1 company last time out; that race looks decent form and he moved well for a long way that day under a patient ride – the way he travelled in that company suggests a mark of 144 shouldn’t be beyond him.
Harry Fry, as has been well documented, is in considerably better form than he was last season and he noted in a stable tour that “he’s probably best fresh and hopefully there’s a good prize in him this season”.
With conditions to suit, he looks to have a very good chance here against rivals who, for the most part, are more exposed.
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