Three each-way bets from the Doncaster Grimthorpe meeting today, which should be a cracking day’s racing. All three go with very sound chances from winnable marks in races that should be ideally suited.
Doncaster’s course is one which really tests the jumping of a horse, specifically over fences in the chases. That is only enhanced further over the shorter trips where they can really go at a good early pace. All three of today’s selections are sound jumpers who should relish this, whilst putting their competition under pressure.
Hercule Du Seuil @ 14/1
Hercule Du Seuil @ 14/11pt Each-Way | Doncaster 13:55
T: Neil Mulholland | J: Richie McLernon
King Turgeon @ 14/1
King Turgeon @ 14/11pt Each-Way | Doncaster 14:30
T: David Pipe | J: Jack Tudor
Intosomethinggood @ 10/1
Intosomethinggood @ 10/11pt Each-Way | Doncaster 16:15
T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies | J: Tom Bellamy
The first up is Hercule Du Seuil, who is a very recent mover from Willie Mullins’ Clostutton stables to Neil Mulholland’s Conkwell Lodge. It’s probably too early in the day to expect any radical changes, but on only his second start in handicap company, I couldn’t not chance a return to form. He is undoubtedly the class horse in the race, and any return to form will make him a live chance.
He loves to make the running and there is very little guaranteed pace in the race. With the track suited to early prominent positions and his ability to get into a real rhythm with his jumping, he could really get these under the pump early doors and make a bid to steal it from the front.
Then goes King Turgeon in the Grimthorpe Chase, which looks a really interesting renewal and, to be honest, there were a few in here I could’ve chanced. However, I kept coming back round to David Pipe’s charge, who goes off the same mark he slapped up off at Cheltenham a little over a year ago.
His reappearance run at Aintree last November was a sound round over a shorter-than-ideal trip, and his next run was also adequate enough until making a mistake. However, for finishing out of the frame in both runs this term, he has been dropped a generous 4lbs by the handicapper, which I think puts him on a plum mark for this.
He had an entry in the Great Yorkshire Chase here last month, where they also had Deep Cave, who Jack Tudor had ridden to win on the last three occasions, but he had opted to take the ride on King Turgeon until he was made a non-runner. That looked a noteworthy decision.
Lastly goes Intosomethinggood, who is a firm second-string based on both price and the jockey bookings, with Sam Twiston-Davies taking the ride on Big Ticket. However, I think Tom Bellamy can have a live chance with him based on his two-length fourth behind Carlenrig, They Call Me Hugo and Conman John in the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle, which is as good a piece of form as any in here for me.
The ground went for him when last out, here at Doncaster, so I’ll forgive him that completely. Provided Doncaster doesn’t get too much rain, he’ll have a live chance and should be bang there.
Other Notes…
The All-Weather today is a horrible, trappy card at Lingfield and Southwell isn’t much better. These make for terrible betting races and, unless you can find something at considerable value, I believe these are best left alone.
Nedia (19:00 Southwell, 20/1) is an Irish recruit who has her first run for Ian Williams and looks on a workable mark. The closest I came to a bet anywhere else. However, George Downing taking the ride — who has a strike rate on the AW of just 1.79% (1/51 over the last twelve months) — was enough to put me off and make it a watching brief. The fact Ed Greatrex opts for Tribal Wisdom for the yard in the same race might be a clue in itself anyway.
You can view my full, transparent results record here, including every Daily Dial selection logged and tracked.
Best of luck with your punting today,
