Saturday Racing Tips – Dan James Racing

Benvenuto Cellini emerged as a standout prospect in this race, Doncaster’s prestigious Group 1 over a mile for juveniles, bolstered by his impeccable pedigree and rapid progression. Sired by Frankel, this Aidan O’Brien trained colt impressed on debut at the Curragh before demolishing rivals in the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown, winning eased down by multiple lengths under Ryan Moore.

That performance showcased his class, stamina, and turn of foot, traits essential for Doncaster’s straight mile where late closers often prevail. Unbeaten in two starts, he heads the betting as the ante post favourite, with trends favouring O’Brien’s representatives in this race, seeking a record extending win.

Soft ground won’t inconvenience him, given his Leopardstown success on yielding turf, and his lightly raced profile suggests further improvement. Among a field including stablemates, Benvenuto Cellini’s tactical speed and ability to quicken decisively position him to handle the step up, making him a prime candidate to emulate past winners en route to glory.

Lam Yai stands out in this listed contest over 6f at Doncaster, thanks to her upward trajectory and affinity for testing conditions. This two-year old filly has compiled a solid record with form figures of 81432, culminating in a narrow defeat in a Group 3 at Ayr last month where she battled gamely on soft ground, proving her resilience and speed.

Rated 97, she receives a weight allowance that enhances her competitiveness against colts, and her ability to quicken off a strong pace makes her ideal for Doncaster’s straight course. Trained by Adrian Keatley, she has thrived in races with cut in the ground, as evidenced by her Ayr performance, and the expected soft going should play to her strengths amid recent rain.

Trends in this Doncaster event favour progressive juveniles with recent high level placings, and Lam Yai fits the bill perfectly, having improved with each outing. With jockey S A Gray retaining the ride, her tactical versatility able to track leaders or come from behind positions her to capitalize on any pace collapse, offering a real winning chance in this open field.

Hyland enters with compelling credentials that position him as a strong contender over the demanding 3m1f trip. Trained by Nicky Henderson, whose yard boasts an impressive strike rate in similar autumn handicaps, this eight-year-old grey gelding demonstrated progressive form last season, securing two victories and finishing second twice in competitive chases.

His form figures of 1122P highlight consistency before a pull up in a high-class event, but that can be forgiven as he returns fresh after a summer break, a scenario where Henderson’s horses often excel. Bred for stamina by Turgeon out of Medine, Hyland has shown he handles soft ground well, which aligns with the forecast conditions at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting. The undulating track suits his prominent racing style, and with top jockey Nico de Boinville aboard, carrying 11st 11lb off a mark of 147, he looks well handicapped compared to rivals. Recent trends favour lightly raced chasers like him in this stamina sapping contest, making him primed for a bold bid.