Thunderball has conditions to suit in the 4.25 at Doncaster and is strongly fancied at 13/2 to take advantage of his lenient mark now returned to a track which he runs well.
Scott Dixon’s seven-yearold looked as good as ever when landing a competitive 18-runner handicap over course and distance on soft ground back in March when racing up with the pace and running on strongly to beat Spinatrix by a length off a mark of 91.
He has not performed to that level since after initially being raised 5lb for that success to a mark of 96, but didn’t run too badly on his penultimate start in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon off 91 when sixth of 20 to Baccarat and now gets into this off just 88.
That means that he is now 3lb lower than when last successful and gives him major claims at the weights – especially now returned to this venue of the soft ground that he relishes.
The gelding is a dual winner over course and distance, and both those successes have come on soft ground.
The form of his win over Spinatrix has also worked out well, with the winner going on to score twice since and finish runner-up off a mark of 100 and that makes Thunderball look well-treated in this given that he gave Michael Dods’ charge 6lb and a beating that day.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Thunderball (13/2 Coral, 888sport)