Doncaster Preview Blog
Sunday 15th June 2025
1.50: Grace And Dotty Fedoras And Feathers Handicap: We get things underway at Doncaster on Sunday with the 1.50, which is division one of a Class 5 handicap over seven furlongs. The in-form Amayretto will be popular here, and rightfully so, for Tim Easterby and Sean Kirrane, as she comes into the race in fine form, having won both of her starts this term. She was a two and a quarter length length winner last time out at Redcar, and she’s got a fighting chance of seeing off a five-pound rise in the weights. FINBAR’S LAD could be well handicapped for John & Sean Quinn, who is the mount of Cieran Fallon. He’s run respectably in both of his two starts to date this year, most recently finishing two and three-quarters of a length fourth of nine at Beverley. He’s been dropped a further pound for his troubles there and will contest this off the same mark as his last winning one.
Elsewhere, Riot looks well-handicapped for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope; he’ll need to bounce back from a disappointing run at York, but he’s down in grade here and should be competitive at the minimum at this level. Whereas, Grace Taufan could be a potential improver for Alice Haynes and Kieran O’Neil, as she makes her handicap debut here.
Shortlist: Finbar’s Lad, Amaryetto, Riot, Grace Taufan
2.25: Grace And Dotty Fedoras And Feathers Handicap: Division two of the handicap comes up at 2.25, and this will be another competitive contest. The David O’Meara trained TWILIGHT DIAMOND could look a solid play here, who’s set to be ridden by Danny Tudhope. He was a novice winner over six furlongs at Wolverhampton back in January, and posted his best effort to date within handicap company at the same track next time up. He’ll need to prove that he can handle the turf as effectively as the all-weather; however, he’s four pounds lower than his opening mark, and it would be disappointing should there not be more to come from him.
Patontheback is starting to look well-handicapped for Gemma Tutty, and he ran well last time out at Catterick when finishing third of eight, and two lengths behind the winner. He’s got every chance of going well again here off a pound lower mark. The same can be said for Novello Lad, who has to be considered a player for Paul Midgley and David Nolan on the back of his third-placed effort at Redcar last month. The unexposed Angel Of Rain could be ahead of her opening handicap mark, as she won a novice event when last seen at Wolverhampton in February.
Shortlist: Twilight Diamond, Patontheback, Novello Lad, Angel Of Rain
3.00: Yorkshire Air Ambulance EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes: We move into novice company at 3.00 with a Class 5 maiden event ridden over seven furlongs. It could be worth siding with the newcomer ARTANIS here, who represents the team of George Boughey and Billy Loughnane. She’s a Showcasing filly who could be useful, and this doesn’t look as though it will take a lot of winning with the calibre of horse she’s up against. Her connections aren’t to be underestimated, and a bold showing would be no surprise on her racecourse debut.
Homestraight has the most experience on the field, with three second-placed efforts to her name over five furlongs. She’s significantly up in trip here, but she has kept on in her races, suggesting she may cope with it. Whereas, Hazy Cosmic Jane progressed from her racecourse debut to finish third last time out, and she should naturally progress again, which would allow her to enter calculations here under Luke Morris.
Shortlist: Artanis, Homestraight, Hazy Cosmic Jane
3.30: Turn The Page And Read “Confined” Novice Stakes: It’s more novice action at 3.30 with a Class 5 novice event, this time contested over a distance of a mile and four furlongs. We have to start with TARRIANCE here for the team of Andrew Balding and David Probert. He’s a Frankel colt with an eye-catching pedigree, and built on his racecourse debut when third at Leicester to be a four and a quarter length winner at Beverley at short odds last time out. That success came over today’s trip, and there is likely considerably more progression to come; he looks the one to beat here.
Bomba Del Mundo is another player for Hilal Kobeissi and Cieran Fallon. She came from the back to win on racecourse debut at Windsor last month, and is open to further improvement. Another to note would be Gravitas for Charlie Johnston and Billy Loughnane, he’s a Sea The Stars colt so should appreciate these sorts of distances, and has finished second in both of his starts to date.
Shortlist: Tarriance, Bomba Del Mundo, Gravitas
4.05: Little Princess Parties Handicap: We move back into handicap company at 4.05 with a Class 4 handicap which is set to be ridden over a mile. There are several here who are well-handicapped, and as a result, are searching for a first win in a while. It could be the time to side with HALE END for Michael Dods and Connor Beasley. The yard form is a worry; however, it can’t go on forever, and this five-year-old comes into the race on a mark which is now three pounds below his last winning one. He ran respectably at Ayr on his penultimate start when finishing third of six, and didn’t get a clear run at Hamilton last time out, albeit it probably wouldn’t have made much difference to the result as Bubbles Wonky was a runaway winner. He should start to be more competitive off these marks, though, and he could bounce back to form here.
Dutch Decoy is another who is looking well-handicapped on his old form; it’s been a long time between drinks for him, however, he will likely pop up in a race of this nature soon, and it could well be here under Jack Mitchell. Out of the in-form contenders, Mount King could have more to offer for Tim Easterby on the back of his win at Pontefract last month, when beating Commander Of Life, who ran well at Chester this week. He’s up five pounds, but could progress again.
Shortlist: Hale End, Dutch Decoy, Mount King
4.35: Mr Dans Entertainment Handicap: Next up it’s the 4.35 and this is Class 6 handicap action for three-year-olds, which is ridden over seven furlongs. This is another competitive low-grade affair, of which TOOTA makes appeal here for Tim Easterby and Duran Fentiman. She showed improved form when stepped up to seven furlongs last time out at Leicester, finishing second of fifteen and over four lengths clear of the horse in third. She’ll contest this particular assignment off the same mark as the Leicester run, and on the basis of that run, should go close again.
Sharon Curly looks another who should go well, she represents Richard Fahey and is the mount of Oisin McSweeney, who takes off three pounds. She’s been knocking on the door within handicap company as of late, and will contest this off the same mark as a second-placed effort at Carlisle last time out. The Bryan Smart-trained Queen’s Palace is unexposed and open to further improvement, she’s expected to build on a solid fourth-placed effort on handicap debut at Ripon last time out.
Shortlist: Toota, Sharon Curly, Queen’s Palace
5.05: Lauras Dance Academy Handicap: The penultimate race of the afternoon at Doncaster comes within the 5.05 and this is more Class 6 handicap action, this time over six furlongs. The Paul Midgley trained GET UP EVERYBODY could be one to take a closer look at here, who’s the mount of David Nolan. He’s run well in both of his handicap outings to date, most recently, when finishing a length and three-quarters of a length behind the winner when fifth at Redcar last month. He’s been dropped a couple of pounds for that run here, and he could be ready to strike back up to six furlongs here.
The two last time out winners have to go on the shortlist here, firstly Atomic Mass, who beat Novamay last time out at Wetherby, and that rival has gone close again since, and is fancied for the last race here. He could have more to offer now dropped back down to sprinting distances. The other comes in the form of Promise Time for Nigel Tinkler. He beat Sharon Curly last time out in impressive style, and he’s up nine pounds for that effort, and if he progresses further, he’s got every chance of shouldering it.
Shortlist: Get Up Everybody, Atomic Mass, Promise Time
5.37: Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Handicap: Signing us off at Doncaster will be the 5.37, which is another Class 6 handicap that’s contested over six furlongs. This could well be the day that NOVAMAY finally gets her head in front for Michael Dods, and she’s set to be ridden by Connor Beasley. She’s got three second-placed finishes to her name so far this term, where in the last two she’s only been beaten by three-quarters of a length and half of a length. Her most recent effort came last week at Catterick, and she should be bang on the premises once again here off just a couple of pounds higher. Her time in the winner’s enclosure is surely forthcoming.
Step Along is another one that needs to be considered here, she represents William Muir and Chris Grassick and comes into the race on the back of two solid efforts within handicap company when finishing third and second at Chepstow and Lingfield respectively. She should be there at the business end of things once more. Elsewhere, Wee Mary has also finished second in her last two starts, and is likely to go well again here for Rebecca Menzies and Danny Tudhope.
Shortlist: Novamay, Step Along, Wee Mary
