'This leading owner looks to have a smart type on his hands' - key takeaways from our team on track this weekend

Drifters do win

Denis Harney, Racing Post reporter at Gowran Park

The number of market drifters who won at Gowran on Saturday was astounding, as Break My Soul, Downmexicoway and Thedeviluno all defied market weakness to score.

Market drifters strike fear in the hearts of many for good reason, but there seemed to be little reason for the drift of these and the winning trainers were non-plussed.

Ian Donoghue was strikingly confident in his comments after the success of his star mare and said: “I expected her to win and she did.”

Ian Donoghue: trainer of Break My SoulCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

So it wasn’t stable vibes that saw Break My Soul, the top-rated mare in the beginners’ chase, ease from 5-2 out to 6-1 before laughing at the doubters and winning impressively.

Clearly, it’s not always informed money that causes these market moves. While betting signals deserve respect, Gowran was a reminder not to lose hope when your fancy drifts.

Predictably 'bad' ground can be a good thing

David Carr, Racing Post reporter at Doncaster

What is so bad about so-called "bad" ground? Nobody seemed to be complaining much at Doncaster on Saturday.

For the seventh straight time that the final turf meeting of the year in Britain has survived the weather, it was staged on going that was very much on the soft side.

It was officially heavy this time and you certainly wouldn't want the Derby to be run on ground like that. Plenty of horses are suited by those conditions and knowing well in advance that you are likely to get them is a godsend to anyone who trains a mudlark.

Hence, there were 100 or more declarations in six of those seven years (there were "only" 99 in 2024), eight races each time and full value for racegoers, who were able to enjoy a dry, balmy afternoon too. Who needs Del Mar?

Familiar colours a welcome sight

Andrew Dietz, Racing Post reporter at Aintree

Robert Waley-Cohen's famous colours aren't seen as often as in the past, but the leading owner looks to have a potentially smart type on his hands in Lightfingered Jack.

The Alan King-trained six-year-old was pitched straight in over hurdles for his debut and shaped with a good deal of promise when chasing home the winner Only Way Is Up in the 2m4f novice.

Robert Waley-Cohen: owner of Lightfingered JackCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

It looked a warm race contested by some highly regarded youngsters and Lightfingered Jack was doing his best work at the end. He is out of smart staying hurdler Polly Peachum, who Waley-Cohen joint-owned, and from the family of Denman.

Lightfingered Jack should be well capable of winning a similar race and could be one for Waley-Cohen, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National, to get excited about.

Wincanton winners to Kempton?

James Stevens, Racing Post reporter at Wincanton

It was very uncharacteristic of Paul Nicholls not to have future targets lined up for Blueking D'Oroux and Rubaud after their Grade 2 wins, but surely they have to appear on the same card once again? Both look well suited to Kempton's King George VI Chase day, with the Kauto Star for Blueking D'Oroux and the Christmas Hurdle for Rubaud.

Rubaud (Harry Cobden) sails over the second flight in the Elite HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicholls did hint that a step up in trip could be the key to further improvement in Blueking D'Oroux and Kempton's flat right-handed three miles might just be perfect. His jumping here was much better than at Newton Abbot, although Kempton will prove a tougher test.

Rubaud has a wealth of options, given he is also a Grade 2 chase winner. He scrambled home at 1-8 and that was nowhere near the level to threaten The New Lion or Constitution Hill, but the fact he was 1-8 here highlights the weakness in the two-mile hurdling division. He will have at least a six-week break after this but it could be tempting.

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ICYMI: 'He's just won a £75,000 chase but he doesn't really feel like a chaser' - Saturday's biggest stories you need to know about 

'I'm starting to dream about Gold Cups - a Mares' Chase isn't keeping me up at night and she's in her prime' 

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