Examiner Can Make The Grade At Doncaster

For those that have been reading my blog from the start Examiner is a horse you will be familiar with. I tipped him up for the Cambridgeshire back in September of last year (9f good) at 50/1 and he ran an absolute cracker off a mark of 88, beaten by a length for the win back in 3rd (first home in his group of 13). He was raised 3lb for that excellent run and after a below par performance at Newmarket (10f soft) he arrives here off a mark of 91.

His dam's only run resulted in an emphatic win on heavy ground, and his sire Excellent Art has produced plenty of easy ground winners. He has already showed that he copes with easy ground just as well as good ground with a solid 5th behind Great Park in a 10f handicap at Ascot, and his 2nd at York on good to soft is more evidence that he is at home on a softer surface.

Stuart Williams trains this 5yo gelding and, though he hasn't got a massive string, his horses are running very well. He has been amongst the winners in the last couple of weeks and he had plenty of success at the all weather tracks during the Winter. That is a big positive, as many of the bigger yards will be just getting going in the early stages of the season so knowing whether their horses are in form or not is impossible to tell.

I think Examiner is capable of winning off his current mark of 91 and to be honest I would have fancied him for the Lincoln if he had made the cut. Jamie Spencer has been booked for the ride and he is 8/73 for the yard with 22 placed efforts (over 40% hitting the frame or winning), Both his wins have come over 8f and, while he was campaigned at 9f and 10f last year, this drop back to a mile could be the key to him getting his head back in front. He is drawn right in the middle in stall 10 so that will give Spencer options as to where he wants to race.

 Examiner looks too big a  price to me at 20/1 and he is my each way selection for the first race of the flat season at Doncaster. Hopefully Spencer can work his magic and deliver him at the perfect time. I will also  be putting up an each way selection for the Brocklesby once the markets have been formed later so be sure to come back and have a look.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.15 DONCASTER EXAMINER (E/W) 20/1