by Sky Sports Racing presenter Alex Hammond previews Saturday’s high-octane action in Doncaster, with Wimbledon Hawkeye living up to expectations in this feature.
With Champions Day in the rearview mirror, you could be forgiven for giving jumping your full attention. Hold on tight. The final National Group 1 of the season takes place in Doncaster and we have a wonderful race ahead of us William Hill Futurity Stakes. The headline grabber here would be a win for Wimbledon Hawkeye, coached by James Owen.
He’s only had a full flat license for just over a year and his rise has felt meteoric, but Owen was already a multiple champion trainer of purebred Arabians, rode many point-to-point winners, and had a successful pre-training business and started by training with NH horses according to the rules and won his first victories in May 2023. He then turned to the flat form, which was also extremely successful. So it’s not a flash in the pan.
However, he clearly has the magic talent and Wimbledon Hawkeye was a great advertisement for the yard. The colt is by Kameko, who himself won the Futurity when it was held in all-weather racing in Newcastle in 2019. Wimbledon Hawkeye is looking to follow in the footsteps of Elm Park, who won the Royal Lodge before adding this Group 1 to his two-year-old record.
Delacroix is his fiercest market competitor and is trained by a master in Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race an incredible eleven times. Delacroix won the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last time out, which is on the same successful path as last year’s Futurity winner Ancient Wisdom.
The latter was trained by Charlie Appleby, represented this time by Anno Domini. It is difficult to rate him as he has competed in and won two beginner competitions so far.
This is the same path as Detain, whose wins at Kempton came by a combined distance of nine lengths.
Hotazhell has more experience than his rivals with five races under his belt and Jessica Harrington’s stallion doesn’t mind the conditions.
Royal Playwright comes from a fabulous Jeff Smith family as he is a son of Juddmonte International winner Arabian Queen. His trainer Andrew Balding has a good record in the race, having won it twice. Nebras also has to contend with the burden of family expectations as he is a half-brother to Nashwa and is inexperienced with just one run and one win.
The seaplane is the underdog and seems to have work – Billy Loughnane is taking over the flight. The riding sensation can look forward to a trip to the Breeders’ Cup, which is just around the corner.
I think it’s devilishly difficult, but I’ll go with a fairy tale for James Owen Wimbledon Hawkeye Who is 5/2 favorite at Sky Bet?
It seems difficult to find winners this time of year.
However, I will also follow Jerr Batt in the Five furlong handicap at 2.05. The fall back on this trip will be fine and at 8/1 he could well come back from a favorable handicap mark. Blue Storm and last year’s winner Aberama Gold are two big threats, but both are slowed down on opposite wings, which doesn’t help.
Mustazeed was a brilliant horse for trainer Harry Eustace and I hope he can keep up well Mile and a quarter Class 2 handicap at 3.15.
At first glance, his draw at 17 looks difficult, but I hope it doesn’t bother him unduly as a holding horse. He loves his trips to Donny and has the support of apprentice Kaiya Fraser, who takes a useful 3 pounds off his back.
Wild nature Looks like it’s on the side Kindergarten handicap at 3.50. Charlie Appleby has won two races of these in recent years and the horse he came second to at Newmarket last time out was Nebras, racing in the Group 1 earlier this afternoon.
Something else needs to be noted Look back with a smile Who has claims in the seven furlong Class 3 handicap at 4.25 if he can bring his best to Doncaster.
He is second of three on the track and won on this card twelve months ago. He may not be the most straightforward player, but a repeat of his Spring Mile victory in March makes him a contender for trainer Gemma Tutty.
However, show jumping fans need not worry as the Cheltenham season started on Friday and Saturday’s card looks to be a blast too.
Sky Bet offers money back as cash if you come second, third or fourth at the opening two and a half mile beginner handicap chase at 1.10.
With that offer in mind and with the race looking so open, I’ll be on his side Dutch Schultz who has hardly done anything wrong in his recent runs over fences. Nine runs resulted in two wins and four second places, and his trainer Gavin Cromwell has a well-publicized track record with his runners in the UK, particularly at Cheltenham. He currently boasts a hit rate of 22%, with winnings of over £35 on a £1 stake at Prestbury Park.
However, I’ll see if it’s foolish to take on Cromwell later this afternoon.
His Bottler’ssecret is the favorite to win at 10/11 Masterson Holdings hurdle at 3.30and I go 100/30 as second favorite Give me five.
His coach Harry Derham is looking forward to an excellent season (his third with a license) and his strike rate is currently 36%. He hasn’t tasted a winner at Cheltenham yet but it’s just a matter of time and I hope he does with this horse who has had the advantage of a run on the flat recently.
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