Jamie Spencer: “I think you can make a pretty strong case for him”

I LIKE Magna Grecia best in the 2,000 Guineas. It looks a wide-open race, but he has track form, is guaranteed to stay and I was quite taken by him when he beat me on Phoenix Of Spain at Doncaster. He just looks very solid.

ICYMI: Magna Grecia won the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes ahead of Phoenix of Spain at @DoncasterRaces after a lengthy stewards inquiry.

Can he win the 2000 Guineas in May? pic.twitter.com/iPYN7bSgRs

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 28, 2018

 

2.20pm Newmarket

Major Jumbo

He ran a great couple of races in defeat for me in big-field handicaps last season and landed a valuable pot in the soft at York on his final start. A revised mark of 107 meant that he needed to step up in grade, and he certainly shaped well when second to Invincible Army in Listed company on his return at Doncaster. He steps down to 5f and up in class here, but he won here over the minimum trip last season and he isn’t that far shy of some of these on official ratings. He handles quick ground well and I think he has a solid enough each-way chance.

 

5.15pm Doncaster

Naadirr

We never really got into the race at Kempton last time, though not beaten far in the end, but he has been dropped another 2lb for it, and he is certainly well enough handicapped now. He drops in grade to this 0-90 and on a track where he has won three times, so I think you can make a pretty strong case for him.

 

6.20pm Doncaster

Archaeology

This could be a hot little handicap but he ran really for me on his debut for his new yard at Newmarket, where he just found one too good. He has gone up 3lb for that defeat but I think there is more to come from him, and any rain wouldn’t bother him.

 

6.50pm Doncaster

Fille De Reve

Ed has his horses in good form and hopefully Fille De Reve can be competitive here. She probably had enough for the season when disappointing at Newmarket in October, but she had earlier signalled she was a progressive sort with wins at Haydock and Ascot. Her record suggests the quicker the better for her, so she probably wouldn’t want to see any more rain.

 

7.50pm Doncaster

Mugatoo

I really liked him when he won at Lingfield last May, but we only saw him once afterwards, and that was at Kempton in November. I haven’t sat on him recently and a mark of 81 is probably high enough for what he has done on the track, but I think he can rate higher with a clear run at things. The trip is an unknown, though, and a lot of David’s horses have been needing the run as the grass is too firm to get on at home.

 

8.20pm Doncaster

Miss Latin

She progressed pretty well last season, and is only 2lb higher than when winning at Newcastle. This is more competitive and she is another who probably wouldn’t want any more rain, but this is only her sixth outing and she may not be far away if running her race. This looks a tricky handicap, though.