It says much for the high hopes entertained for Never Perfect that the North Yorkshire colt had an entry in Saturday’s Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster – and it says plenty for his chances tomorrow, when he turns out on Town Moor 24 hours earlier in a handicap off an attractive-looking mark.

The Tom Tate-trained juvenile, who finished fourth at Newcastle on his debut, justified favouritism at Ayr next time out and has been allotted a rating of just 77 by the handicapper.

Unsurprisingly, Tate is keen to take advantage of that mark, rather than pitch him into top company in Saturday’s final Group 1 contest of the season.

Jamie Spencer, who rode Never Perfect at Ayr, takes the mount again in the Earl Of Doncaster Hotel Nursery. He is awarded the nap vote.

The Racing Post Weekender Out Every Wednesday Handicap over six furlongs is a wide-open affair, but Richard Fahey has three shots at the target with Kaldoun Kingdom, recent winner Valery Borzov and the tough El Viento.

All three have chances and marginal preference is for Paul Hanagan’s mount, Kaldoun Kingdom, who beat all except Sirius Prospect in the Coral Sprint at York recently. He deserves to go one better.

Few would begrudge Bollin Greta a win in the Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager Handicap.

Tim Easterby’s mare has welded together a whole sequence of placed efforts and has not done an awful lot wrong in defeat. Even with top weight of ten stone, she looks sure to go well under David Allan.

John Quinn is another local trainer with winning prospects, courtesy of Violent Velocity in the Pricewise In Racing Post On Saturday’s Apprentice Handicap.

Matthew Lawson takes the mount on this battle-hardened handicapper, who has finished runner-up in his last two starts.

At Newbury, Robert Eddery, brother of former champion jockey, Pat, saddles Red Quarter in the Sir Gerald Whent Nursery.

Winner of his last two races, the juvenile provided Eddery, a first-season trainer, with a memorable first York winner earlier this month when coming through fast and late to clinch a competitive handicap.

Ryan Moore is a significant booking for newcomer Stencive in the Bet At bluesq.com Maiden Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained two-year-old cost 260,000 guineas as a yearling and boasts an impressive pedigree.

Also worth noting are the consistent Hunter Forward (4.05) and Top Diktat (4.40), who looks overdue another win.


racing selections

Doncaster
1.30 Gregorian, 2.00 Lacily, 2.35 Red Halo, 3.10 Never Perfect (NAP), 3.45 Kaldoun Kingdom, 4.20 Bollin Greta, 4.55 New Hampshire, 5.25 Violent Velocity.

Newbury
1.20 Usain Colt, 1.50 Emperor Vespasian, 2.20 Mutasadder, 2.55 Stencive, 3.30 Red Quarter, 4.05 Hunter Forward, 4.40 Top Diktat, 5.15 Double Handful.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Fakenham and Wolverhampton.

Today’s meetings: Brighton, Carlisle, Ludlow and Wolverhampton.