Today's watchword must be caution as the turf Flat season gets under way at Doncaster. Wet weather in the past few months has left many stables less forward than usual at this time of year and it is anyone's guess to what degree this will effect today's results.
Fingers are traditionally burnt at this meeting any way as trainers find that their "good things" are not quite so far forward as they had thought. In such inhospitable conditions to the serious backer, stakes must be kept to a minimum.
The Spring Apprentice Handicap gets the new season under way at half past one but is almost certainly a spectacle best watched. With Les Eyre's string running into form on the all-weather in the last few days, Lady Rachel is a tentative selection.
With nothing but speculation to go on in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes for newcomers, a similar policy is best adopted, although positive reports have been emerging from Jack Berry's yard about Paris Star.
By 2.35, things start to get interesting. The Transpennine Express Handicap tends to throw up a handful of good sorts and Fnan looks of greatest interest.
By Generous out of a Group One-winning mare, he looks every inch the type to do better as a three-year-old than at juvenile level. And he ought to be suited by this extended 10-furlong trip.
His trainer John Dunlop has an excellent record in this sort of contest and the long journey he makes from his Sussex base looks a tip in itself.
Dunlop has a live chance of completing a double 65 minutes later in the listed Doncaster Mile with Generous Libra. Another son of Generous, this five-year-old had appeared thoroughly unreliable until a remarkable change of character and form.
He ended last season with success in a listed race at Newmarket and with champion pilot Kieren Fallon on board to milk the best from his mount, rates the best bet of the afternoon.
Night Flight ran an excellent race when third in a valuable contest on the fibre-sand at Wolverhampton 10 days ago. Trainer Richard Fahey reported afterwards that his charge would come on for the race and he looks a solid choice in the Tote Stakes. He went off the boil a little after July last season, and consequently starts the season on a fair mark. Drawn in stall seven, he can track the early pace and pounce up the centre of the track to land the spoils.
Barry Hills can get the turf season off to a good start by saddling Eaglesham, a half-brother to In The Wings, to success in the Badsworth Maiden. The finale, the Golden Boots Lady Riders' Handicap, could be best left to the pin-stickers.
Iron Mountain goes best coming off a fast early pace, which he will almost certainly get here, and enjoys the services of the extremely capable Emma Ramsden, who takes the ride.
Bookmakers saw red at Towcester yesterday after amateur jockey Fred Hutsby failed to draw the correct weight after partnering Rusk to victory in the Rosemary Boardman Birthday Celebration Amateur Riders' Selling Hurdle.
His mount was automatically disqualified but not before a breakdown in communication between the clerk of the scales and the course announcer that led to the weigh-in being announced before the objection was made public.
