Racing betting: Belardo a cut above the rest in Doncaster Mile
Sanwiched in the middle of Saturday's seven-race card at Doncaster is the Listed Betway Doncaster Mile (3.55pm).
There is no shortage of class in the race with the 117-rated pair of Custom Cut, a winner of no less than six Group contests, and BELARDO both going to post.
Custom Cut was a revelation in 2014, winning five races on the bounce, before proving that he could mix it with the big boys by landing a brace of Group Two prizes last season.
Still it’s Belardo that brings the strongest form to the table, having landed the Group One Dewhurst in 2014.
Although that was the scene of his last victory, the four-year-old finished only a length-and-a-half behind multiple Group One winner Gleneagles in last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas.
He was then a close second to the sensational Solow on Champions Day at Ascot.
Roger Varian has started the season well with Postponed winning the Sheema Classic and this four-year-old should have too much for his rivals on ground that he will enjoy.
Before getting stuck into Belardo, I’ve also got an interest in the Listed Betway Cammidge Trophy (3.20pm).
GAMESOME, previously trained by the now-retired Olly Stevens, was purchased for 75,000gns last October and will have his first start for Paul Midgley tomorrow.
Midgley is a trainer to respect when it comes to sprinters and Gamesome, who finished sixth in last season's Wokingham at Royal Ascot, could well be a very useful addition to his yard.
Admittedly, he has a little to find on ratings with some of his rivals, but he’s still fairly unexposed. He’s shown some of his best form on good-to-soft which is likely what the ground will be on Saturday afternoon.
Pointers
Gamesome e/w, 3.20pm Doncaster
Belardo, 3.55pm Doncaster