BIG DONNY DOUBLE TONIGHT
CRAIG DAY, Doncaster’s new racing manager, will oversee the South Yorkshire track’s biggest meeting for a number of years tonight.
The finals of the 2024 Yorkshire Derby and BGBF British Bred St Leger will be the highlights of a 12-race all open-race card with the Category Two events offering first prizes of £8,000 and £3,000 respectively.
Day, who previously worked in the betting industry and was a regular guest on RPGTV before taking up the role at Doncaster, is looking forward to finals night and is already looking forward to the future.
“It’d be great to make the Yorkshire Derby a Cat One next year – and that’s what the Watson family will be pushing for,” he said. “None of this would be possible without their support and I know they’re keen to upgrade the Yorkshire Derby now it’s back on the schedule.”
As for Saturday’s deciders, Day feels both are very competitive and is delighted with the overall quality – and below is his thoughts on each of the finalists for the respective competitions.
BGBF British Bred St Leger Final
1 Fabulous Dyna Laurence Tuffin’s defending champion ran a massive race in the semis after trouble. Will take all the beating and has got some draw!
2 Acomb Jasper (m) Would have to front-run to have a chance. Clearly a pacey type and Kevin’s (Ferguson) a shrewd man who can’t be written off! Will edge off from T2.
3 Keefill Delphine (m) Improving through season. Showed massive heart to win her semi-final, holding off kennelmate Amelia. Another ping-break and who knows?
4 Fabulous Tempo (m) One of the main dangers who has all-round pace – she beat ante-post favourite Romeo Hotshot in the heats. Would have to clear pace around her but has plenty of ability.
5 Keefill Amelia (m) Has plenty of pace but was held by her kennelmate Delphine last week. However, if she got off the front-end she’d be a different bitch.
6 Wolf Moon (m) A one-time Puppy Classic finalist from Nottingham who has plenty of pace but has also won over further. The six-box isn’t ideal but did beat Dyna last week. The main danger to the defending champion if clearing his lines.
Betting: 4/7 Fabulous Dyna, 10/3 Fabulous Tempo, 7/2 Wolf moon, 20/1 Keefill Amelia, Keefil Delphine, 25/1 Acomb Jasper
2024 Yorkshire Derby Final
1 Ballymac Lineout Could edge off from T1 but ran a great race in the heats and then won his semi-final. Would be a big player if reproducing his start from last week.
2 Vixons Filofax Ran a massive race in behind Greenwell Coe in last week’s semis. If he can clear Ballymac Lineout inside he’d certainly be a player.
3 Chelms Sonny (m) Showed plenty from a tougher draw last week and is much better drawn for the final. He’s shown plenty of gears and I feel he’s overpriced.
4 Slick Sentinel (m) Oozes class having won the Juvenile Classic at Towcester. Extremely talented but not been starting like he can. Will need to come away.
5 Greenwell Coe (m) Been paw-perfect so far – 29.17sec last week was a massive run. Another smash break and he’ll take all the beating!
6 Bellmore Ozzy (w) Feels like one of Doncaster’s own, even though he’s a Nottingham dog – he loves it here! Got it to do on the clock but well drawn and got savage early pace. Probably needs a career-best effort to win.
Betting: 3/1 Greenwell Coe, Slick Sentinel, 7/2 Vixons Filofax, 4/1 Bellmore Ozzy, 11/2 Ballymac Lineout, 9/1 Chelms Sonny
Joes’s Saturday Tips
***8.28 Perry Barr – Aero Pattika
**7.53 Perry Barr – Nushkas Witch
*9.52 Perry Barr – Whyaye Man
Put back a week due to the weather, we have the two big finals at Perry Barr this evening with a full open card supporting them including two trials for the upcoming PGR Oaks which gets underway in a weeks time.
The Nap of the evening is runs in the 480m standard at 8.28pm. Trap One Aero Pattika has been given a chance here to lead and make all. He went well in the first round of the Birmingham Cup before going out behind Aayamza Sydney two weeks ago and a clean break here sees him lead and hold on from Unreal Bruiser.
The next best runs over 660m at 7.53. Nushkas Witch was well supported last week in the same race before the abandoned meeting and I can’t see any reason why she can’t go well here in what looks a more than winnable staying race. Her Valley form is strong over four and six bends so if she manages to lead here with the short run to the bend she will be tough to beat.
Other selections on the card include Whyaye Man over 480m at 9.52pm, Distant Cara over 480m at 9.02pm and Lucky Chloe in the PGR Oaks Trial Stake Division Two at 7.01pm.
Irish Laurels semi
Irish Derby and Oaks winners The Other Kobe and Crafty Shivoo – first and second in the ante post betting – both go in the second semi final of the Irish Laurels semi finals this evening.
Ante post: 10/3 The Other Kobe, 7/2 Crafty Shivoo, 6/1 Road Exile, 8/1 Faypoint Harvey, Romeo Taylor, 10/1 High Trend, 16/1 Hazelhill Bucko, Romeo Falco, 20/1 Droopys Polish, Seek The Kingdom, Tinahue Pappone, 40/1 Ballyowen Bell
OPENS
Tonight: Central Park ♦ Monmore ♦
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
Monday: Nottingham
