Nathra to Prove Gosden has the Magic Touch

2.25 Doncaster – Nathra

Saturday – the day of the week that all racing purists look forward to. The action during the week will suffice, but the high-class action and competitiveness of the racing on a Saturday set it apart. Although the flat season is winding down, there are still some interesting races and the 2.25 at Doncaster is one of those – a 7-furlong Group 2 race for 3 year olds and up. In this race, we like the look of the John Gosden trained Nathra. The 4-year-old filly is yet to hit the target this season, but she ran a very promising race when finishing second last time out at Sandown in a Group 3 contest. In a fairly open race, she can be supported at odds which seem too big.

Nathra couldn’t have made a more impressive impression when starting her career back in 2015, as she won her debut at Salisbury before bolting up by 7 lengths on her second start. After coming back in 2016 with a victory, she hasn’t scored in her next eight starts. Although she hadn’t won in a while, Nathra has put in a number of solid runs, none more so than last time out at Sandown. The Iffraaj filly competed over 1 mile on good ground and not much went right during the race – the horse dwelt early and was then trapped out wide, having to cover much more ground than her jockey Frankie Dettori would have liked. The winner, a Marco Botti trained horse, flew by our selection and won going away, but there was much to like about Nathra that day. The drop back to 7 furlongs from a mile will suit, and the horse will definitely get a much better trip at Doncaster where there is a long home straight.

It is telling that John Gosden keeps his filly in training – after all, she could have gone off to be covered by some horses at stud. His 4 year old females still in training are worth following; 50/196 (26%) for £107 LSP. His entrants score 45% more frequently than they are entitled to based on odds, so 6.50Bet €100 to win €65011/2Bet £100 to win £650+550Bet $100 to win $6505.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$6505.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp650-0.1818Bet RM100 to win RM650  with Bet365 is worth taking.

5.45 Musselburgh – See Vermont

With so man meetings and so many mounts to choose from, it is interesting that champion jockey elect Silvestre De Sousa opts to travel north of the border to ride at Musselburgh racecourse. The racing isn’t of the highest quality, but he has good chances and See Vermont looks to have a very solid opportunity to go close. The majority of bookmakers have installed the 9-year-old gelding as a second favourite, with best odds of 5.50Bet €100 to win €5509/2Bet £100 to win £550+450Bet $100 to win $5504.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$5504.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp550-0.2222Bet RM100 to win RM550  with Bet365 and BetVictor currently available.

See Vermont rolls into this 5-furlong sprint on the back of a victory last time out, so the horse is riding on the crest of a wave. That came over today’s course and distance and was on fast ground. The son of Kyllachy only had a nose to spare, but has gone up just the solitary pound in the weights, and switching out Duran Fentiman for Silvestre De Sousa is probably worth 3lbs at least. The win last time out wasn’t his first at Musselburgh, and See Vermont is likely to sit handy, just behind the leaders, before making his move 2 furlongs out. It is likely to be nail biting stuff and if he wins it isn’t going to be by several lengths, but Rebecca Bastiman’s horse has a very strong chance.

Tips Summary

14:25 Doncaster – Nathra to win
Saturday 16th September
Odds: 6.50Bet €100 to win €65011/2Bet £100 to win £650+550Bet $100 to win $6505.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$6505.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp650-0.1818Bet RM100 to win RM650

17:45 Musselburgh – See Vermont to win
Saturday 16th September
Odds: 5.50Bet €100 to win €5509/2Bet £100 to win £550+450Bet $100 to win $5504.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$5504.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp550-0.2222Bet RM100 to win RM550