Easterby duo weighted to strike at Doncaster

Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby has his team in good form, and The Hooded Claw and See Clearly look weighted to take all the beating in the 6f sprint handicaps at Doncaster today.

First up is The Hooded Claw (3.25), who had some very solid form to his name as a juvenile.

The son of Dandy Man ran a blinder to finish a 3 1/4 length fifth of 23 in the valuable listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar, before gaining a much deserved success at Catterick where he scored easily by two lengths on heavy ground off an official rating of 85.

The gelding was then off the track for 165 days before finishing an eye-catching fourth to Mecca’s Angel over 5f at Thirsk two weeks ago, where after being slowly away and outpaced he stayed on late without being unduly punished.

The handicapper has since dropped The Hooded Claw 2lb to a mark of 80, and that looks more than exploitable now that he is upped back in trip to a more suitable 6f on ground which will hold no fears.

See Clearly also caught the eye on her comeback run and looks to have everything in her favour to take advantage of a career-low handicap mark 35 minutes later (4.00).

The mare has not tasted success since landing a 6f contest at Thirsk back in 2012, but that win came off a mark of 64 and the daughter of Bertolini is now running off just 57.

That gives the five-year-old, who has won off 17lb higher in the past, major claims at the weights.

Sea Clearly also looks sure to strip much fitter for her recent run at Thirsk where she kept on from the rear to finish a never nearer sixth over an inadequate 5f under a tender ride, and with step up to 6f sure to suit, looks to have been found an excellent opening to get back into the winners’ enclosure.

Earlier on the card, Carthage is a fascinating contender now stepped up in trip to 1m 2f on his handicap debut (1.50).

Richard Hannon’s son of Mastercraftsman showed plenty of ability to be placed in three maiden runs as a juvenile, including on his final start at Newbury when third of 10 to Chatez over a mile in what looks a warm contest.