Stick With Sakhee At Doncaster

I was very disappointed with Mister Musicmaster's run earlier and he just couldn't land a blow. He wasn't able to get to the front and dictate, and he eventually finished well beaten. The big race of the day on Saturday is the Hungerford Stakes and you can read my thoughts in my exclusive preview for Bettingtools by clicking here.

Hopefully we can get back to winning ways on Saturday with a horse that regular readers of the blog will be familiar with. Sakhees's Return did us a favour on his penultimate run, when landing each way money for us at Ascot in a decent Lady Rider's handicap. He returns to his preferred ground at Doncaster and he could bounce back to form.

He has run once since that fine effort, and it is because of this run that he can currently be backed at odds of 18/1. However, the good to soft ground was never going to suit him at Thirsk, and he actually ran a better race than I thought he would. He still looked to be in good form, and as an extra bonus the handicapper dropped him a pound for that effort to a mark of 84.

This means he is now 2lb below his last winning mark, and this will be only the second time he has had his preferred quick ground this season. The first occasion was at Ascot on his penultimate start, and he ran a cracker off 86 to be 3rd of 18 behind Hawkeyethenoo.

He is 2lb lower here, Tim Easterby is ticking along nicely and had a couple of winners during the week, and Jason Hart is a top class jockey booking. This will be his first time to ride Sakhee's Return, but the 4yo gelding is an uncomplicated type so there should be no issues.

He has been 3rd on the two occasions he has raced in contests with more than 12 runners, so the big field will hold no fears. He is drawn in stall 12, so that will give Hart options at the start. Hopefully he bounces out, sits just off the lead and then makes his move a furlong out and puts the race to bed. I think he has a big chance once the rain stays away (sunny, breezy day forecast), and at odds of 18/1 he is a confident each way selection.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.40 DONCASTER SAKHEE'S RETURN E/W 18/1