Dan looks good to dazzle once again at Doncaster meet

DAZZLING Dan will, hopefully, bid a successful farewell to the English racing scene in division one of the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of ‘good’ ground Doncaster today, on a fitting occasion, last day of the 2018 turf flat-racing season!

Can you believe it’s nigh on eight months since the current campaign kicked off with victory for Mick Channon’s Izzer in the 2-y-o Brocklesby Stakes?

Our final resting places have obviously been organised and readied; time is absolutely flying but we soldier on and make history by our achievements or whatever; pointless worrying about something that may never happen, as my late, great ‘Mam’ used to say, even though it will!

Current focus will be on a ‘Dazzling’ display and Peterborough trainer, Pam Sly, in the Town Moor winners’ enclosure alongside the thrice-raced, 86-rated Dandy Man gelding, which posted a useful time-handicap mark twelve days ago at Leicester in similar conditions.

Realistically Dazzling Dan (below) had no chance with Richard Hannon-trained Watan but ran on well to finish a creditable second, beaten just over three lengths off the 103-rated winner, a graded prospect next year.

Pam was delighted, Dazzling Dan ‘needed’ the run and now he’s ready to go one better against opposition which needs to improve considerably if my selection replicates either of his last two marks.

Incidentally ‘Dan’ has been sold, providing ‘winning brackets’ are achieved and so you will be on a dead-set trier.

Hannon saddles once-raced Purbeck, expected to improve but in division two expectation is much higher for consistent, hitherto luckless, clear’best-in’ Chatham House to make if fifth time lucky under Rossa Ryan, now without an apprentice claim but destined for a successful career, with his ‘Boss!’

Hochfield, preferred of Mark Johnston’s declarations for the 23-runner November Handicap over twelve furlongs, and mount of ‘PJ’ McDonald, comes into this final curtain feature off the back of a ‘career-best’ time-handicap mark only twelve days ago; that is the biggest of many boxes which this five-year-old gelding ticks!

‘Johnno’ also entered ‘Ces’ flop, Making Miracles, but Hochfield is way superior on our TH ratings, judged on his short-head defeat over a similar distance at Leicester; failing to get up might prove to be a blessing in disguise, a winner without a penalty no less in a 70000 handicap; Mark knows that!

Doncaster, 12.20 Dazzling Dan (nap-e.w); 12.55 Chatham House (e.w); 3.15 Hochfield (e.w).