Coral Racing Ambassador, Hugo Palmer, previews his runners across the cards at Doncaster, Chester, Bath and Musselburgh on Saturday, including Dubai Bling in the Portland Handicap on the St Leger card. 

13:10 Doncaster – Game Character

Game Character is a lovely horse, and I thought he ran a really encouraging race on debut at York last month. We feel he’s come forward for that first run, and he should improve for stepping up a furlong to a mile, so we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

13:30 Chester – Grey Cuban

Grey Cuban is drawn well in stall 2, and he ran well in this race last year to finish third. However he did have a hold up at the start of the year, so this is his reappearance, and he is taking on Dubai Honour, so there are factors against him.

I didn’t see anything else in the race that would want to lead, so he might just have an enjoyable time of it on the front end. He does have to prove he truly stays this trip, but we know he nearly stays this far, so if he got left alone in front, he could run well for a long way.

14:20 Doncaster – Dubai Bling

This horse needs to sort his starting out, he just seems to be missing it, gets left behind before finishing strongly, which is annoying. He never really got into it at York two runs ago, it all happened too quickly, but if he can jump well and latch onto the group here the trip should be perfect for him.

He did run well to finish third in a Listed race at Newmarket last time, and any drying of the ground here will suit him, although good ground will be fine. This is a race that is within his compass, I definitely think he can win off this handicap mark but everything does need to go right for him to win.

14:40 Chester – Tidal Force

The Coral Racing Club horse really seems to have woken up for his debut run at Haydock last week, he’s been fresh and alert and on his toes this week. He handled the ground at Haydock, but I just thought a mile in that ground was too far for him. Coming back to seven furlongs should suit and with a nice draw in 2, he could run a nice race.

Winning on his second start might be a big ask, but for all he finished last on debut, he did run well for a long way, if he can do that again it would be another step in the right direction. It has taken time for the penny to drop with him, but his attitude at home this week suggests last week’s experience wasn’t lost on him.

15:08 Bath – Jazz Queen

Jazz Queen has been a frustrating filly, I hope they will go a good gallop here and she can finish her race, as she does stay six furlongs.  I was looking at the nursery at Chester for her, but it was just too strong and out of her grade, so we’ve come here.  She handles any ground, but on what we’ve seen so far, she doesn’t seem to be progressing which is frustrating.

15:50 Chester – Box To Box

Unlike Grey Cuban, Box To Box has had the benefit of a run, and I thought he ran well for a long way at Windsor, he did get a second wind that day and ran on again to finish sixth. He’s been really well since and we’re very happy with him. He’s got a lovely draw in 2, he loves Chester, and I think as he’s got older he appreciates some dig in the ground.

If he puts his best foot forward he can win off this handicap mark, so I hope he can run a big race.

17:10 Chester – Kindest Nation

Kindest Nation runs on Friday and, as long as she’s well, she could back up again here. My fear is she is not loving the game, but if she chooses to get involved, the pick of her form is enough to give her a chance here. She looks fantastic, but she does need to show something she hasn’t recently.

17:20 Musselburgh – Desert Smoke

I thought she ran really well for a long way at Ayr last time, and as she doesn’t want it rattling fast, the good ground will suit her here. We’ve put blinkers on her and dropped her back to five furlongs, and hopefully those things will work the oracle, as I do think she’s better than she’s shown so far.

Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassador