Doncaster 15:20 6f Handicap 1st April 2012

ANCIENT CROSS
Never won at 6f but showed a number of times last year that he remains a solid sprinter. His record at Doncaster is pleasing and no reason why he can't run a decent race despite his now lofty mark.       

JOE PACKET
Form is patchy at best and is likely to struggle here being 9lbs above his last winning mark. Needs to show a lot of improvement to come home ahead of some of these and hard to see him trouble the judge.       

CONFESSIONAL
Consistent sort who still surprisingly only has two turf wins to his name; perhaps paying for said consistency with weight rises. Not one you could rule out but has little margin for error off current mark.       

COLONEL MAK
Has yet to reproduce the same level of form that saw him land the Ayr Silver Cup back in 2010; he usually saves his best for trips to Scotland. Three AW runs this Winter do little to inspire and not one you want to bet the mortgage on.       

DESERT LAW
Lightly raced son of Oasis Dream; he should improve as a 4yo. The quicker ground will play to his strengths and the trainer has started the season well. It's easy to see him going well here.       

NASRI
Mainly raced over slightly further than today's trip but has won over 6f. One of the better types in this and ability is there to land a blow. Only concern is there'll be something that fraction quicker than him under today's conditions.       

KING OF JAZZ
New recruit for the Michael Bell team who has won his only start here to date, albeit over 7f. Form tailed off towards the end of the year but it'd be no surprise to see improvement now with a new stable and as a 4yo. Interesting contender.       

ADVANCED
Stalwart of these races and usually pops up somewhere during the season. Whether it's first time out today though is in question and his current mark of 94 is above what he's been going close off. Others better treated.       

CROWN CHOICE
Another to have switched stables/owners over the Winter and comes here feasibly treated on his best form if on song. He isn't getting any younger though and it'd be nice to see something more of late to get enthused about.       

FITZ FLYER
One of a number in here for Dandy Nicholls but the jockey booking here probably tells you where in the pecking order he features. The 7lbs claim is useful, though would be a surprise if he came home ahead of the rest.       

DOCOFTHEBAY
Ran a few screamers in defeat last term for old stable and has been kept on the go over Winter on the AW, so he should be fit. Always battles hard and while he might find winning tough he should be closer to the front than the back come the line.       

MARINE COMMANDO
Looked to be progressing again towards the end of last year when landing Haydock event after a second here, but bombed in final start after that. Hanagan teaming up with Fahey spells danger to all though and has to be respected.       

EL VIENTO
Another with a patchy looking record last term and he's turned out today with a 4lbs higher mark than when he last won. The Topliss claim offsets that somewhat but he'd need to improve markedly on all known form to land this.       

ELUSIVE PRINCE
Scored first time out last season and hasn't had too much racing so there's scope for more to come again potentially. One of the ones with a better chance than most in this today and it wouldn't be a shock to see him at the finish.       

NO HUBRIS
Hasn't raced at 6f since his 2yo days and needs to recapture the talent he had then sooner rather than later. Once he does though he could easily be a force in these type of events. Probably best watched for the time being though.       

WILDCAT WIZARD
Finished last in this last season and hasn't been seen since May 2011; one assumes something went wrong with him. He showed lots of promise on that final start though and will surely pick up a handicap during the year.       

IMPERIAL DJAY
Hasn't run over this distance for 18 months and hard to envisage him landing a blow in event such as this against some that look to be better treated.       

DAMIKA
Likeable sort who often puts in bold efforts. Now a 9yo and with a different stable though so whether he may be declining slightly is open for question as he went through last term winless.       

JOHANNES
Entitled to be very competitive off the mark he now finds himself on as he was once a decent sort. The last two seasons have been nothing to write home about, although his final two starts he wasn't too far away. Difficult to see winning.       

STAR ROVER
Quite the speed merchant and isn't one to be resting in his box at home for too long having amassed a large number of starts to date. Likely he'll simply set this up for something coming by him and hard to fancy.       

SWILLY FERRY
Lost his way for the Hills team but snapped up by Dandy Nicholls over the Winter and just the sort he excels with. Has plenty of room to go back up in the ratings again being 17lbs below his highest mark; no surprise to see a decent showing.       

SUNRAIDER
Another on a mission to reclaim his old form after no showings at all to speak of over the last 18 months. Again, is well treated on his very best runs but needs to step up his game to be competitive.
       


As competitive as you like for the first big sprint handicap of the season and there’s a few that come into this with the potential to be much better than they were last season. Desert Law looks like he should go well here for the Balding yard, it’s no surprise to see him as the favourite and he could easily bolt up. However SWILLY FERRY is extremely interesting on his first start for Dandy and has dropped to a mark that is very exploitable. Given his trainer’s record with this type of horse he makes plenty of appeal and has run well on all three starts at Doncaster to date. Of the remainder it’s Ancient Cross who appeals at a bigger price. He is another who has been pretty consistent at this track and he ran in some top sprint handicaps last term. He probably doesn’t need to reproduce that level of form to land a blow in this.


Swilly Ferry 1pt ew @ 12/1
Ancient Cross 1pt ew @ 20/1