Gracias Aidan

CIRCUS MAXIMUS looks overpriced to steal the show in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster today.

All the attention will be on another Aidan O’brien runner MAGNA GRACIA who has been well-backed to win the final Group 1 of the season in the British Isles.

The two-year-old’s case is an obvious one having ran a fine race with only the highly-regarded French raider Persian King a neck too good at Newmarket earlier this month.

That was only his second run on the track and he left the impression there is plenty more to come with Donnacha O’brien in the saddle.

However, punters may be looking at close to an odds-on shot come race time, and could find better each-way value with stablemate Circus Maximus.

The Galileo colt was back in third place at Newmarket that day, a little over three lengths behind Persian King.

There was a lot to like about the performance though as Circus Maximus travelled strong to get into contention but tired a little at the end, perhaps not living with the pace of the classy front pair.

The suspicion is Doncaster could be more up his alley and his pedigree naturally suggests he will enjoy the trip.

The home challenge will be headed up by the John Gosdentrained TURGENEV who was very impressive in winning at Newmarket too albeit in a lesser field to the one O’brien’s pair contested.

Turning attention then to the jumps and Gordon Elliott is sending some interesting runners over to Cheltenham today.

His best chance could be DINONS (4.20) who has really made hay while the sun has shined, racking up four wins on the trot since early August. And it would have been five if not for a final flight fall at Bellewstown in July. A decent bumper performer – the five-year-old has really taken to hurdling and, with the assistance of champion jockey Richard Johnson, could be too hot to handle over an extended trip. Galway also hosts a national hunt card today and WHISPERINTHEBREEZE is fancied to make a winning chase debut in the Sanserv Rated Novice Chase (2.05). Jessica Harrington’s striking grey caught the eye a number of times over hurdles last season but chasing always looked his game. A few rivals have more experience over the larger obstacles, none more so than easy handicap winner ABBEY MAGIC, but Whisperinthebreeze might not be far away from graded class.

(16/1) CIRCUS MAXIMUS could This well-named two-year-old sneak under the radar and upstage his more fancied stablemate.