4:20 – Doncaster – FREE BETTING WITH FREEBETS.CO.UK CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (3yo) Soft 1m2f60y
Andrew Balding looks to have placed Expense Claim very well today by running the 3 year old bay gelding in a four runner Conditions Stakes. He has improved very well this season which has seen his handicap mark rise from 79 to 97 in just three runs. However because he is running in a Conditions race today he runs off level weights with two of his three rivals, while Counterglow carries penalties for previous wins.
Expense Claim ran three times during his 2 two year old season and was too green to do himself justice on his first two runs and although he finished 3rd on his final run, he tired towards the end of the race in Soft ground as he had not run for nearly two months after making much of the running. Nevertheless, he was marked down as a potentially useful handicapper for this season.
He made his seasonal reappearance on the all weather track at Kempton in April and having been gelded over the winter was a lot more settled. He was also upped in trip significantly from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 3 furlongs. He raced prominently as he has done last season, taking the lead 2 furlongs out before quickening away to win by 1 ¼ lengths being eased down towards the finish in the process. He next ran at Salisbury on 06 May upped in Class from Class 6 to Class 4 and running over 1 mile 2 furlongs and also making his handicap debut. He was up with the pace as usual and went to the front 2 furlongs out and when he was put under pressure by the second horse he dug deep to win by a neck.
Expense Claim’s rate of improvement was confirmed when he ran at Newbury on his next run in a Class 2 handicap over 10 furlongs. He tracked the pace travelling strongly before going to the front 2 furlongs from home. He was driven out and stayed on strongly to win by 3 lengths despite being up in class and carrying 6lb more weight. His last run was in a Listed race at Goodwood 15 days ago and was able to dictate the pace in a four runner race. He quickened 3 furlongs from home being driven out in the final 2 furlongs and was only caught by the winner 100 yards from the finish. Despite only finishing 2nd he ran another good race and is clearly still thriving.
The runs over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Doncaster this afternoon and he has won both of his races at this trip. The going at Doncaster is Soft and although he tired on his only run in the going to date, he had been off for two months and he appears to be a much stronger horse this year. He has also won in Good to Soft ground twice this season already.
Jimmy Fortune rides Expense Claim today and Jimmy knows him well having ridden him twice last season and on his last two runs which include his Class 2 Handicap win and placed run at Listed level.
Expense Claim’s preference to race prominently and or lead could well set up the race for him today. He could well dictate the pace of the race and with his decent turn of foot could create a decisive break around 2 furlongs out. He is back down in class and runs off level weights and given the form his is in could well notch up win number four for the season.
