Titus Mills can land Meehan and Fallon Racing Post Trophy
kIEREN FALLON has had a solid season, but he is yet to ride a Group One winner since his return from suspension last year and the big races are the ones he desperately wants. However, things could change tomorrow at Doncaster as he has the perfect chance to round off the campaign with TITUS MILLS in the Racing Post Trophy at 2.55pm.
Brian Meehan’s runner is unbeaten in two career starts, winning a decent maiden at Ascot before taking a Listed contest at Goodwood last month. He has to step up on that form, but he gives the impression that a mile will suit and he should benefit from being ridden with more restraint.
Meehan has an excellent record in this race with his last four runners all finishing in the frame. Crowded House dotted up two years ago and the trainer thinks Titus Mills could be better than any of his previous four contenders, so snap up the 9/1 each-way with Paddy Power.
No Irish-trained two-year-old has won a Group race in Britain this season which is very rare, but they have a strong hand here. Casamento is the likely favourite, but this race could have been something of an afterthought and the market vibes aren’t strong.
A bigger danger may be Kevin Prendergast’s Dunboyne Express, who is unbeaten in two starts and had Master Of Hounds and Roderic O’Connor behind him on debut at Leopardstown in June. However, I’d be worried about the form of the yard as Prendergast has sent out just one winner from his last 42 runners.
Aidan O’Brien always deserves respect in races like this, but I’m not convinced he has a star two-year-old this season, while Native Khan looks up against it on good-to-soft ground.
The meeting kicks off with a £50,000 five furlong handicap (1.55pm) and Michael Jarvis can land the prize with HARRY PATCH. He has only had five career starts, but has looked very promising this season and could be a good deal better than his handicap mark. Jeremy Noseda’s Waffle finished third in this race last year and he would be the main danger to our selection.
Mick Channon’s GALTYMORE LAD has been extremely unlucky to run into Wootton Bassett in the two big Yorkshire Sales races this summer and compensation awaits in the Listed Doncaster Stakes at 2.25pm. The form has been franked with Wootton Bassett landing the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last time and he looks a class above tomorrow’s rivals.
Philip Hobbs is better known for his jumpers, but he often unleashes some useful runners on the flat and ALAZAN looks well up to the task in the Crownhotel-bawtry.com Handicap (4.40pm). Frankie Dettori was in the saddle when he powered up the Sandown hill to win comfortably last month. He has gone up 7lb for that win, but a mark of 81 could still underestimate him with in-form Dettori taking the ride again.
Finally, there is a competitive maiden to kick-off tomorrow’s action at Newbury and it may pay to have a few quid each-way on Roger Charlton’s AL KAZEEM. He ran an excellent race on his debut here a few weeks ago and has reportedly come on massively for the run.