Thursday 23rd July 2026
We’re back in business after a few weeks off, and I’ve got a best bet of the day to share with you from Doncaster on Thursday. The race in question is the 4.15, and this is a Class 5 handicap set to be contested over a distance of seven furlongs. There are eight runners currently set to go to post, competing for a prize pot of £8,400.
I like the chances of COMMANDER OF LIFE here for Jessica Macey, who’s acquired the services of Sean Levey in the saddle. You wouldn’t label this five-year-old son of Invincible Spirit a ‘winning machine’, with a tally of four wins from forty-three starts; however, he is often consistent, and is often there or thereabouts at the business end of things. He ran well over course and distance on his penultimate start, finishing fourth of twelve, whilst most notably, his run at Newbury last time out is what takes the eye most. On that occasion, he finished second of fourteen, and just a length and a quarter behind the eventual winner Annastarzy.
The form of that race also has a strong feel to it, as the horse who finished fourth on that occasion, Best Rate, has since come out and won twice, and is now rated eighty-seven. Another key thing to take from the Newbury run is that this came within Class 4 company, whereas the Macey-charge steps back into a Class 5 for this Doncaster assignment. He’s been nudged up a couple of pounds by the handicapper here, and he’s also just two pounds higher than when winning over course and distance twelve months ago. Whereas he’s three pounds lower than his last winning mark, albeit that success came on the all-weather.
If he runs to the same level as his Newbury effort here, he should go very close, and the jockey booking of Sean Levey is also an eye-catching one. I think that they mean business here.
Who are the dangers? Well, the most obvious threat to the selection has to be Farandaway for Grant Tuer and Oliver Stammers. He comes into this race in fantastic form, with form figures of 2121, the latest effort being a handicap success at Thirsk at the beginning of the month, where he kept to his task to win by half a length. He’s three pounds higher here, but there could still be room to manoeuvre for him off that mark. The rest of the field are a bit of a much-of-a-muchness; one that could go well is Straight A for Michael Appleby and five-pound claimer Mason Paetel (5). He ran well here in May when finishing second off the same mark; however, he does need things to fall in place for him given he’s often held up. He could be weighted to run well though, with Paetel taking off a handy five.
Selection: Commander Of Life – (5/2) (Win) – (4.15 Doncaster)
1-2-3: Commander Of Life (5/2), Farandaway (3/1), Straight A (9/1) – (4.15 Doncaster)
