Best bet on Sunday's card at Doncaster is Dr Richard Newland's Mart Lane, who can uphold the trainer's remarkable recent strike-rate by taking the handicap chase at 14:20. A former inmate of the Shark Hanlon yard, he looked transformed when winning on debut for his new stable at Bangor, but was feeling the effects of that slog when below form at Sandown just nine days later. He bounced back to form when third over this C&D last time, albeit proving no match for the front pair, but this drop in class allied to the refitting of blinkers should see him go very close at a fair price.
The son of Stowaway lost his pitch around the home turn last time before keeping on again, thereby proving his stamina for three miles, and it's to be hoped that the headgear will help him maintain his pitch towards the head of affairs if and when the pace picks up. He's only four pounds higher than for that Bangor success, and the recent exploits of the stable (three of the last five runners from the yard have won) augur well for a big run.
At Leopardstown, I'm hopeful that Our Conor can dethrone Hurricane Fly, but the best bet on that card comes in the opening contest, where Baily Dusk can continue an excellent run. Mouse Morris' gelding looked disappointing until fitted with blinkers this autumn, but has been transformed by headgear, winning twice and finishing second on the other two occasions. He's a front runner who clearly stays well, and will have most of today's field in trouble before halfway. The danger is Wrong Turn, who may well have won his last three in this sphere, but errors have put him on the floor on his last 2 starts. If he avoids mistakes he may well win, but Baily Dusk looks a much safer bet on that score.
Recommendations:
Back Mart Lane @ [7.8] in the 14:20 Doncaster (NAP)
Back Baily Dusk @ [6.6] in the 12:25 Leopardstown (NB)
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