Sunday 1st April

Good evening,

So a blank couple of days for no other reason than being too busy to look at the racing or write a blog post and to be honest I’m a little frustrated with my selections which so far have given me no return. Far too early to come to any conclusions around my form really as I’ve only looked at a few races and perhaps I have forced the selections when they should be finding themselves. To try and figure out where I am going wrong I know what I have to do, that is to document on here all my thought processes for a while. What I’ll do is pick a race and then summarize all the runners in it and hopefully come to a conclusion! I know that some of you will read it and think some of my thoughts are overly simplistic but that is sort of the point really, I have a habit of overcomplicating things in my mind and can sometimes miss the obvious, having it all down here to go through again will help me stop making the silly mistakes or pinpoint me some winners so either way it will be an exercise worth doing I think.

I’m rather disappointed that I missed the racing at Doncaster today but I at least get another chance tomorrow! I’ll start by looking at amateur riders handicap in this first race at Donny…

Ladies Best – Been running ok in a couple of lowly selling handicaps hurdles recently without winning, only seen on the flat twice last year over staying distances. Looks regressive to me. Not won over the trip either.

White Diamond – Another that has predominantly run over the jumps in recent times, decent return from a mini break last time at Wolverhampton. Recently joined new yard and possible improvement to come. Won from a higher mark than this in Ireland and 2^nd here in a fillies handicap off 5 lbs higher last year.

Jeer -  Won this race last year from a pound higher than today. Normally seen with either a tongue tie or blinkers which are both missing today which is a concern. Looks fairly treated but why no headgear?

Sedgewick – Been off the track for nearly a year but has won and placed from long breaks before now, won from this mark and similar races in the past. Market will probably tell us more but the draw isn’t ideal.

Edgeworth – Looks as though the handicapper is loosening his grip on this one now, ran well the last twice. This trip looks to test him though, of interest if running over 1m-1m2f.

Arizona John – Looks well treated on old form and has dropped to a tempting mark now, this is a drop in class for him and the recent reappearance from a break should see him come on. The yard are doing well at present too. One to keep onside given a strong pace.

Hurakan – Only won in claimers on the all weather, long break to overcome and twice before when trying to do so has ran poorly. This is his first time out for a new trainer who removes the tongue tie that became an ever present last time. Best avoided.

Kodicil – One of the few relatively unexposed types in the field. Much will depend on whether he has improved over the winter. Always ran well when at the front end of the market and a decent amateur has been booked. Positive.

Northern Spy – Can’t work out why they are running him over this far, normally seen at shorter and all best form at far shorter. Beaten in a seller recently when odds on.

Maslak – Looks like he has a lot on his plate at the weights currently. Only real chance is if he gets an easy lead. Otherwise trip and ground are fine.

Lil Ella – Promising recent win in an amateur riders contest at Wolverhampton when making AW debut to spring a surprise at long odds. Could still be well treated, though form in Ireland suggests he needs soft ground and AW win confirms this really. If they all go too fasts she will stand a chance.

Zaplamation – Back on his last winning mark now and last time in a decent hurdle event seemed to suggest that he may be on his way back to form. I’m not sure about this trip for him though, beaten comprehensively each time tried above 1m2f and from lower marks than this too.

Pitkin – Another that has to prove his stamina, barely proved he stayed a mile last time so why are they trying him over this far? This represents a rise in class and he doesn’t look very well treated.

Gallantry – An old favourite of mines! Simply put he is an all weather horse and doesn’t get this far.

Stadium of Light – Has never finished in the top 3 on the turf and only ever won an egg and spoon race at Southwell. Looked to have an attitude problem when last seen and has a long break to overcome too.

Angellena Balerina – Has a habit of starting slowly, not proven over this trip and stamina has been in doubt before now.

Merrjannah – Never won a race, didn’t get home on only try at this trip on the all weather. Showed nothing last time.

There doesn’t appear to be an awful lot of pace in the race with only Maslak and Jeer as confirmed front runners and both are drawn on opposite sides with 17 runners though I can’t see this one being run at a steady pace. The ones that interest me most are Arizona John and White Diamond, the trainer form and jockey booking has me wanting to stake more on AJ but I want to keep WD onside after his recent 2^nd place for her trainer, she will be thereabouts if coming on for that run.

13:35 Doncaster

Arizona John 0.5pt EW 7/1 B365 BOG

White Diamond 0.25pt EW 7/1 B365 BOG