Hail The Kayser

Doncaster racecourse deserves a lot of kudos for its ability, particularly since the extensive redevelopment a few years ago, to stage competitive winter racing on decent ground, which in the depths of winter is a big boon to both trainers and punters alike. It's no surprise to see big fields for their novice events today, and it would be no surprise to see plenty of Cheltenham Festival pointers this weekend, with Annie Power the undoubted highlight, and something of a coup for track and sponsors, who have gone to great lengths to ensure the presence of Willie Mullins' hugely exciting mare.

I'll tiptoe over the early events for my best bet there, however, but the promise of a reasonably sound surface is important to the chances of Neil King's Kaysersberg, and he looks worth a punt in the handicap hurdle at 15:15, assuming conditions don't deteriorate in the interim. He looked the horse to help King break into the big leagues when beating Red Devil Boys and Turn Over Sivola in a bumper here in 2011, and proved that was no flash in the pan when defying a penalty at Warwick.

Kayserberg hasn't taken off as expected since an impressive victory on his hurdles bow at Kempton, but conditions were all against him last time, and he ran very well at Aintree on his seasonal return prior to that, finishing fourth to subsequent Cheltenham winner Trackmate in a very competitive handicap. That form is quite simply the best on offer in today's race, and it's a mystery why he's only third best in the early betting market. Tornado Bob won at Worcester in the summer, but several of his rivals that day failed to fire, and he was found wanting off his current mark last time, and has a six-month absence to defy now, while Atlantic Roller has plenty to prove after finishing out with the washing on his return from injury at Cheltenham in November. He's likely to step up on that now, but hasn't done enough to justify his position at the head of the market.

In the following handicap chase over nineteen furlongs, it's very hard to get away from the claims of Take The Mick who races off the same mark as when a good second to Buywise on his chase debut at Ludlow last week. With the pair pulling seventeen lengths clear of the field, and the winner scoring again under a penalty next time, the form looks solid, and Take The Mick looks more like a an even-money poke than his current price. He's sure to attract support, but will still appeal at significantly shorter odds.

Recommendations:

Back Kaysersberg @ [4.8] in the 15:15 (NAP)

Back Take The Mick @ [3.75] in the 15:50 (NB)