Thursday Night Racing: Donny Delights

The racing continues to come thick and fast at this time of year, with seven cards to look forward to this coming Thursday. The pick of them from a betting perspective looks to come at Doncaster where three of the juvenile contests look like presenting promising betting opportunities.

6:20 Sky Vegas Heres To Who Knows EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes

There’s always a little risk attached when backing a runner first time out, but that largely comes with the territory in finding a profitable approach to these Maiden contests. Richard Hannon’s Penarth Pier sets the standard amongst those with a run under their belt, but it doesn’t look to be an insurmountable one and I’m keen to take him on.

The two to catch my eye amongst the newcomers are Zofelle from the yard of Hugo Palmer and Mark Johnston’s, Accordance. There’s little to split the pair on pedigree appeal, but with the Palmer operation seemingly not firing on all cylinders at present, it is the Johnston runner who will be carrying my cash here.

If is about as far as these juveniles want to go at this stage in their career’s and as such a decent dose of stamina in their pedigree can count for plenty. The presence of Archipenko – who won over this trip as a juvenile, and later scored at up to 1m2f – in his breeding line is particularly encouraging. Allayed to the fact that Johnston has been rattling in the winners of late and usually has his debutantes ready first time out makes this one look well worth a punt.

Tip: Accordance to win

6:55 Sky Vegas Prize Machine Fillies’ Nursey Handicap

Mark Johnston also has sound claims in our next contest with No Lippy who is dropping down from Listed company. She has to concede 10lbs and more to a field of less exposed rivals though under a welter burden of 9st10lbs.

Take her on with the handicap debutant Porcelain Girl from the yard of Michael Bell. This one ran her best race yet last time out at Chepstow when keeping on nicely into third despite having to make her challenge from wider on the track than ideal. Hayley Turner wasn’t hard on her once the bird had flown and that tender handling can reap dividends here with an opening mark of 71 looking far from insurmountable. Jamie Spencer takes over in the saddle for the first time and she’s fancied to go close.

Tip: Porcelain Girl to win

7:30 Sky Vegas King Of The Unexpected Novice Stakes

Richard Hannon is a man often associated with juvenile success, with his overall 16% in two year old contests up there with the best around. If we delve a little deeper we find that he fares especially well in Novice Stakes contests such as this.

In Balata Bay Hannon looks to have the right horse in the right race to improve those stats still further. Having looked all at sea on debut on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, he took a big step forward on his first turf outing last time out at Chepstow. Tanking along nicely on the front end throughout, he showed an admirable attitude to pull clear at the line, only being given two slaps of the whip inside the final furlong. He does have to concede 6lbs to the field here, but looks up to the job.

Tip: Balata Bay to win