Watch out for a surprise Snowstorm at Doncaster today. The Michael Bell-trained colt can freeze out his rivals in the £175,000 Racing Post Trophy.
This final Group One race of the year has a habit of throwing up surprises, with two of the past four winners starting at double-figure odds.
With no star two-year-old in today`s line-up - thanks to the defection of Hemingway - things look ripe for another longpriced winner. And Snowstorm is the obvious candidate.
He has progressed with every run, remains open to further improvement and is ideally suited by this stiff mile.
The colt proved the last point by winning a nursery over the course and distance at the St Leger meeting, putting up a fine effort to defy top-weight by half a length from the useful Northfields Dancer.
That was a second win in three starts for the grey, who was narrowly beaten for speed by the smart Spettro in a small field at Nottingham in between. The emphasis will be firmly on stamina today - ideal for Snow- storm. Staying power may also prove the key for Kathryn`s Pet in the mile-and-a-half Tote/Racing Post `Ten To Follow` Stakes. She will benefit from this longer trip, having been touched off by Nowell House in a 10furlong event at Redcar last time out.
A likely strong pace today will also suit Kathryn`s Pet, who should be all the better for that first outing in four months.
Caxton Lad can begin to make up for lost time with a win in the Magic A M Rated Stakes. Training problems have prevented the colt fulfilling the abundant promise he showed as a two-year-old last season when he romped to victory in nurseries at Haydock and Southwell, showing blistering speed each time.
An immature bone condition kept him on the sidelines throughout the first twothirds of this campaign, delaying his reappearance until last month. But Caxton Lad shaped highly encouragingly on that return to action and looks set to reward his longsuffering trainer Peter Makin`s patience.
He showed he had lost none of his early pace as he led 18 race-fit rivals a merry dance in a very competitive five-furlong handicap at Doncaster, only to weaken out of the places in the final 300 yards as lack of a recent outing told.
Derby fifth Wellbeing will be hard to beat in the Perpetual Stakes at Newbury. He was given plenty of time to recover from his Epsom exertions by Henry Cecil and looked better than ever when landing a smooth comeback win at Newmarket last month.
Tremallt may prove best in the Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton, where Phardante Flyer looks good in the Greene King Hurdle.
