Doncaster Preview: Quicuyo weighted to go well

Quicuyo has a superb record at Doncaster and looks weighted to further enhance it the 2m 3f handicap chase there today (4.50).
Trained by James Ewart, this gelding is a three-time winner at the track, and two of those successes have come over this afternoon’s trip.

The 12-year-old was last victorious in a 2m 1f contest at the venue back in January 2012 when jumping bodly and making all to score by 1 1/2 lengths in a class 2 contest off a mark of 137.

Quicuyo then failed to shine in his next two starts and was subsequently on the sidelines for 931 days before reappearing at Wetherby back in November.

The veteran has since run well to finish runner-up over course and distance, and also shaped well last time out at Ayr when second to Aye Well.

Quicuyo has since been dropped a further 1lb by the assessor, and is now able to race off a mark of just 111 in this class 4 contest.

That is a massive 26lb lower than when last successful in a much higher grade, and makes the son of Acatenango look weighted to take all the beating now returned to his favourite stomping ground.

Nefyn Bay is in the form of his life at present and looks a worthy favourite in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle that opens proceedings (2.10).

The Donald McCain trained six-year-old overcame all sorts of trouble in-running to complete the hat-trick at Catterick three days ago when slamming Deny by seven lengths.

This gelding scored with tons in hand and it’s no surprise to see connections turn out Nefyn Bay quickly under a 7lb penalty before the handicapper has his say.

The penalty is also off-set by the 7lb claim of young rider James Cowley, who partnered Nefyn Bay to victory on his penultimate start, and that makes the selection look thrown-in at the weights.

McCain looks to have a fine chance of completing a double on the card with Style Setter in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle (4.20).