Jim Crowley Blog | Doncaster
17 May 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, preview his six rides at Doncaster on Saturday evening, including Mukaafah in the 20:20.
18:07 Doncaster – The Dragon King
On a busy day I head to Doncaster for their evening meeting, where I have six rides, including a couple for Clive Cox and Mukaafah in the Shadwell silks. I start on one for Clive, The Dragon King has had a couple of runs already this season, he ran a good second on debut at Southwell, and then maybe didn’t enjoy soft ground at Nottingham the next time, although he still wasn’t beaten far.
He should appreciate a better surface here, and of those who have run, he appears to have the strongest form, so although we don’t know how good the newcomers might be, I’d be hopeful he can go very close.
18:42 Doncaster – Nemov
Second ride for Clive, and it’s another who’s had a couple of runs. Again, he ran well to finish second on his debut, but following a wind op, he ran green and ultimately a bit disappointing second time up. That was at Windsor on good to soft, so once again I’m hoping better ground will see him to better effect.
19:15 Doncaster – Caustic
Caustic is a son of Galileo who made his first two starts in bumpers, finishing second both times, before getting off the mark at the fourth attempt at Lingfield in February. He then failed to fire at Southwell, but I think running on turf will suit him better, as will the step up in trip, so while giving weight away won’t be easy, there are factors in his favour.
19:50 Doncaster – Onslow Gardens
I’ve not ridden this fellow before, he ran well on his first couple of starts as a 2-y-o, but didn’t really kick on from there and was gelded. They then got a couple of runs out of him last year, and now aged 4, he’s making his handicap debut, and interestingly, they’ve dropped him back to 6 furlongs for the first time.
Connections must like him to persevere with him, and if the sprint trip suits him, he could go well, he’s certainly an interesting runner.
20:20 Doncaster – Mukaafah
This horse is the main reason I’m heading to Doncaster, Mukaafah is a talented Shadwell homebred son of Blue Point who bolted up at Kempton last November, and in a good time. He then went back there in March but didn’t settle, and as a result didn’t see out his race.
He’s got a hood on him this time, and if that can settle him down, he’s a big strong horse who will have a future if he can see out his races.
20:50 Doncaster – Beach Point
Beach Point ran his best race to date at Bath last time, to finish second, which suggests he is going the right way, and if he can replicate that here, connections may have found a good opportunity for him.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
18:07 Doncaster – The Dragon King
On a busy day I head to Doncaster for their evening meeting, where I have six rides, including a couple for Clive Cox and Mukaafah in the Shadwell silks. I start on one for Clive, The Dragon King has had a couple of runs already this season, he ran a good second on debut at Southwell, and then maybe didn’t enjoy soft ground at Nottingham the next time, although he still wasn’t beaten far.
He should appreciate a better surface here, and of those who have run, he appears to have the strongest form, so although we don’t know how good the newcomers might be, I’d be hopeful he can go very close.
18:42 Doncaster – Nemov
Second ride for Clive, and it’s another who’s had a couple of runs. Again, he ran well to finish second on his debut, but following a wind op, he ran green and ultimately a bit disappointing second time up. That was at Windsor on good to soft, so once again I’m hoping better ground will see him to better effect.
19:15 Doncaster – Caustic
Caustic is a son of Galileo who made his first two starts in bumpers, finishing second both times, before getting off the mark at the fourth attempt at Lingfield in February. He then failed to fire at Southwell, but I think running on turf will suit him better, as will the step up in trip, so while giving weight away won’t be easy, there are factors in his favour.
19:50 Doncaster – Onslow Gardens
I’ve not ridden this fellow before, he ran well on his first couple of starts as a 2-y-o, but didn’t really kick on from there and was gelded. They then got a couple of runs out of him last year, and now aged 4, he’s making his handicap debut, and interestingly, they’ve dropped him back to 6 furlongs for the first time.
Connections must like him to persevere with him, and if the sprint trip suits him, he could go well, he’s certainly an interesting runner.
20:20 Doncaster – Mukaafah
This horse is the main reason I’m heading to Doncaster, Mukaafah is a talented Shadwell homebred son of Blue Point who bolted up at Kempton last November, and in a good time. He then went back there in March but didn’t settle, and as a result didn’t see out his race.
He’s got a hood on him this time, and if that can settle him down, he’s a big strong horse who will have a future if he can see out his races.
20:50 Doncaster – Beach Point
Beach Point ran his best race to date at Bath last time, to finish second, which suggests he is going the right way, and if he can replicate that here, connections may have found a good opportunity for him.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
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