TUR OF DUTY FOR GOSDEN
John out to halt O’Brien run
TURGENEV looks the horse to stop Aidan O’Brien landing a ninth win in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (4.05).
John Gosden, fresh from a Champions Day treble, saddled Roaring Lion to second last year and Turgenev is already 16-1 for the Derby. That price is likely to shorten if successful today under Frankie Dettori.
Unibet have seen plenty of cash for Turgenev who is in to 7-2 from 5-1 after two easy victories this season.
But O’Brien is the undisputed king of this race and his mount Magna Grecia has raced just twice so far. Donnacha O’Brien’s ride is sure to get better with age and has the right profile to win a race of this nature.
Phoenix Of Spain also brings strong form to the table and was a fine second to Too Darn Hot at the same course in September and 4-1 look tasty odds.
Andrew Balding won this with Elm Park in 2014 and his runner here, Dashing Willoughby (22-1), is better off at the weights with Raakib Alhawa (20-1) on their Newbury running last time.
Canton Queen has been the one for cash in the opening Listed race (1.45) and Richard Hannon’s charge was not disgraced in the Rockfel Stakes last time so 9-1 could be a generous price.
The race also sees recent Kempton scorer San Donato top the market at 5-2.
The Handicap (3.25) has attracted lots of attention and course and distance winner Foolaad could be well treated off a mark of 96 so punters have taken the 10-1 available.
Erissimus Maximus has also been strong at 9-1 while Dakota Gold, at the same price, was unlucky last time and we’ve kept Michael Dods’ charge on side.
A new jumps season kicks into gear at Cheltenham and Aintree.
A Cloudy Dream, who makes his debut for Donald McCain, heads the market at 7-2 in the Old Roan Chase on Merseyside (3.00) but Frodon is a big danger at 4-1 under Bryony Frost who has three winners in the last seven days.